Clinical features and characteristics of patients with mucoid, mucopurulent and purulent sputum
| Variable | Mucoid | Mucopurulent | Purulent | p-value |
| Patients n | 20 | 62 | 59 | |
| Age yrs | 70.5 (66.2–74) | 69 (59–77) | 64 (57–71.5) | 0.06 |
| Males | 5 (25) | 25 (40.3) | 21 (35.5) | 0.4 |
| Age at diagnosis yrs | 64.5 (58.5–70) | 58 (43–70) | 49.5 (36–66) | 0.03 |
| FEV1 L | 1.6 (1.16–2.11) | 1.90 (1.35–2.5) | 1.52 (1.28–1.90) | 0.03 |
| FEV1 % pred | 78.7 (54.6–92.7) | 78.2 (62.2–94.8) | 65 (50–77) | 0.005 |
| FVC L | 2.26 (1.8–3.04) | 2.45 (2.07–3.72) | 2.43 (1.98–3.17) | 0.2 |
| FVC % pred | 83 (76–98) | 86.5 (74.1–99.7) | 77 (64–89) | 0.03 |
| FEV1/FVC | 0.76 (0.67–0.87) | 0.70 (0.59–0.81) | 0.68 (0.52–0.76) | 0.03 |
| FEV1/FVC % pred | 98 (70–113) | 93 (75–99) | 85 (68–95) | 0.09 |
| Lobes affected n | 2 (2–4) | 3 (2–5) | 4 (3–5) | 0.03 |
| Varicose or cystic dilatation | 7 (35) | 25 (40.3) | 48 (81.3) | <0.0001 |
| Inhaled steroids | 4 (20) | 29 (46.7) | 37 (62.7) | 0.004 |
| Beclomethasone equivalent daily dose 13 μg | 1500 (550–2000) | 1000 (950–2000) | 2000 (1000–2000) | 0.52 |
| CRP mg·L−1 | 3 (1–10) | 4 (1–8) | 5 (2–10) | 0.2 |
| SGRQ total score units | 30.0 (15.7–41.9) | 29.9 (18.5–57.5) | 46.2 (27.0–58.7) | 0.04 |
Data are presented as median (interquartile range) or n (%), unless otherwise stated. FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 s; % pred: % predicted; FVC: forced vital capacity; CRP: C-reactive protein; SGRQ: St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire.