Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the study patients

Age (n = 440) med (IQR)

68 (61–74)

Gender (M/F)

372/68

FEV₁ (ml) (n = 92) med (IQR)

965 (700–1060)

Time course of COPD (years) (n = 243) med (IQR)

7 (4–15)

Comorbidities

 Diabetes n (%)

81 (18.4)

 Hypertension n (%)

127 (28.9)

 Cardiac failure n (%)

36 (8.2)

Oxygen home therapy n (%)

93 (21.1)

Baseline treatment

 Aminophylline n (%)

107 (24.3)

 Short-action duration ß2 mimetics n (%)

197 (44.7)

 Long-action duration ß2 mimetics n (%)

46 (10.4)

 Anticholinergics n (%)

39 (8.9)

 Inhaled corticosteroids n (%)

116 (26.4)

 Systemic corticosteroids n (%)

37 (8.4)