Table 1

Baseline characteristics for fluticasone and placebo groups.


Patients (n = 260)

Fluticasone n = 128
Placebo n = 132

Age (years) (a)
67.6 (8.9)
67.3 (9.0)
Male n (%) (b)
62 (48%)
74 (56%)
Exacerbation history


     Self-reported yearly COPD exacerbation rate
1.93 (1.52)
1.86 (1.57)
     Antibiotics or steroids in last year(c)
1.59 (1.71)
1.48 (1.77)
Smoking Status


     Current smoker n (%)
52 (40.6%)
47 (35.6%)
     Amount smoked (pack years)
40.0 (24.2)
38.8 (22.3)
Medications


     Duration of inhaled medications (years)
8.7 (7.0)
8.2 (5.6)
     Daily Prescribed Dosage of ICS(d) (mcg)
947 (784)
812 (531)
     On LABA medication n (%)
45 (35.1%)
42 (31.8%)
     Influenza vaccine in winter
104 (81.2%)
106 (80.3%)
Lung Function


     Pre bronchodilator FEV1 (litres)
1.22 (0.54)
1.32 (0.54)
     Post bronchodilator FEV1 (litres)
1.31 (0.55)
1.40 (0.56)
     Post bronchodilator FEV1 (% predicted)
53.2 (18.2)
55.0 (17.1)
     Reversibility (% change in FEV1)
8.1 (8.0)
7.2 (6.8)
     Post bronchodilator FVC (litres)
2.40 (0.77)
2.56 (0.88)
     Peak expiratory flow rate (L/min)
220 (90)
235 (90)
Health Related Quality of Life


     SGRQ Total (%)
52.6 (20.2)
47.2 (19.4)
     EuroQol 5D total score
0.64 (0.29)
0.68 (0.30)
     EuroQol 5D visual analogue scale
60.6 (18.8)
61.1 (20.8)
MRC Dyspnoea Scale


     Scale 3 or greater (%)
77 (60%)
66 (50%)
Chronic Symptom Profile(d)


     Shortness of Breath n (%)
96 (75%)
95 (72%)
     Sputum Production n (%)
69 (54%)
78 (59%)
     Wheeze n (%)
60 (47%)
59 (45%)
     Cough n (%)
72 (56%)
69 (53%)

(a) Continuous data is displayed as mean value and standard deviation.

(b) Categorical data is displayed as number of cases (n) and percentage of group for fluticasone or placebo.

(c) Patient prescriptions at general practice/hospital/accident and emergency/outpatient visits for antibiotics and/or steroids for COPD exacerbation.

(d) Dosage of daily inhaled corticosteroid prescribed is stated a s beclomethasone equivalent in micrograms.

(e) Chronic symptom profile at recruitment interview. LABA = Long acting beta 2 agonist.

Choudhury et al. Respiratory Research 2007 8:93   doi:10.1186/1465-9921-8-93