Table 1

Characteristics of subjects

Variables
COPD smokers
COPD ex-smokers
'Healthy' smokers
Healthy never-smokers

Subjects (n)
22
17
8
11
Male/Female
22/0
14/3
7/1
4/7
Age (years)
64.2 ± 4.9
62.7 ± 6.3
61.7 ± 6.2
59.8 ± 8.2
Smoking (pack-years)
33.4 ± 5.7
27.9 ± 5.1
28.8 ± 12.1
-
FEV1 (L)
1.5 ± 0.4*#
1.7 ± 0.2*#
3.2 ± 0.6
3.7 ± 0,2
FEV1 (% pred.)
53.3 ± 4.2*#
57.1 ± 4.7*#
109.6 ± 5.3
117.5 ± 4.1
FVC (L)
2.7 ± 0.5*#
2.9 ± 0.4*#
3.0 ± 0.2
3.3 ± 0.2
FVC (% pred.)
69.8 ± 9.1*#
71.7 ± 7.3*#
108.1 ± 8.2
110.0 ± 6.4
FEV1/FVC ratio
50.2 ± 5.9*#
52.5 ± 6.8*#
91.0 ± 4.6
93.5 ± 1.0

Values are mean of percentage ± SEM. *: p < 0.05 compared to healthy never-smokers; #: p < 0.05 compared to 'healthy' smokers

Babusyte et al. Respiratory Research 2007 8:81   doi:10.1186/1465-9921-8-81