Baseline characteristics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients taking fluticasone propionate (FP) and/or salmeterol and reference patients
FP and salmeterol | FP alone | Salmeterol alone | Reference | |
Patients n | 317 | 431 | 297 | 3620 |
Female % | 52.7* | 52.7* | 49.2* | 44.2 |
Age at diagnosis yrs# | 64.6±8.5* | 66.1±8.8* | 68.6±9.2* | 72.2±9.8 |
Smoking status % | ||||
Non or exsmoker | 35.0* | 32.5* | 33.7* | 26.9 |
Unknown | 6.9* | 7.0* | 12.5* | 20.7 |
Current smoker | 58.0 | 60.6* | 53.9 | 52.4 |
Daily cigarette consumption packs# | 0.69±0.39 | 0.73±0.50 | 0.67±0.41 | 0.71±0.46 |
Severe COPD¶ % | 6.6* | 5.1 | 8.4* | 3.8 |
Baseline+ treatment | ||||
Inhaled corticosteroids % | 89.3* | 66.4* | 39.7* | 4.4 |
Inhaled β2-agonists % | 89.3* | 71.0* | 65.0* | 33.1 |
SABA | 73.8* | 67.3* | 51.5* | 31.3 |
LABA | 65.6* | 9.0* | 23.9* | 0.4 |
Other adrenergic stimulants % | 2.8 | 1.2 | 4.4* | 2.4 |
Oral β2-agonists % | 7.6 | 7.2 | 6.1 | 8.6 |
Xanthines % | 16.7* | 14.2 | 13.1 | 10.8 |
Anticholinergics % | 26.2* | 23.0* | 24.6* | 5.8 |
Oral corticosteroids % | 58.7* | 57.8* | 37.4* | 16.8 |
Combined bronchodilator products % | 7.3* | 5.3* | 5.4* | 1.8 |
Oxygen therapy % | 2.8 | 2.8 | 4.0 | 3.1 |
Nebulised therapy % | 4.1* | 2.3* | 5.1* | 0.9 |
Baseline+ use of health services | ||||
COPD-related GP visits % | 64.0 | 67.7 | 65.3 | 68.7 |
COPD-related hospitalisation§ % | 7.9 | 6.7 | 5.4 | 6.2 |
COPD-related A&E visits % | 1.6* | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
History of comorbid conditionsƒ | ||||
Comorbid conditions present % | 23.0* | 31.1* | 31.3* | 43.3 |
SABA: short-acting β2-agonists
LABA: long-acting β2-agonists
GP: general practitioner
A&E: accident and emergency
#: mean±sd
¶: as defined in 14
+: 6 months before start of regular treatment
§: in- and outpatient
ƒ: as defined in 16
*: p<0.05 versus reference group