| Indacaterol | Salmeterol | Placebo | |
| Subjects n | 330 | 333 | 335 |
| Age yrs | 63±8.7 | 63±9.2 | 64±8.6 |
| Males/females % | 72/28 | 75/25 | 77/23 |
| Duration of COPD yrs | 6.5±5.7 | 6.4±5.7 | 6.6±5.8 |
| Ex-smokers/smokers % | 54/46 | 54/46 | 55/45 |
| Smoking history pack-yrs | 40±17.0 | 40±16.7 | 41±18.9 |
| ICS use % | 45 | 46 | 40 |
| FEV1# L | 1.5±0.49 | 1.5±0.49 | 1.5±0.47 |
| FEV1# % pred | 54±14.0 | 53±13.6 | 53±14.2 |
| FEV1/FVC# | 0.5±0.10 | 0.5±0.10 | 0.5±0.11 |
| Reversibility to salbutamol % | 12±15.3 | 11±13.9 | 13±16.4 |
| SGRQ total score | 43±18.6 | 44±18.4 | 44±18.1 |
| BDI score | 6.8±2.1 | 6.6±2.2 | 6.6±2.0 |
| Salbutamol use puffs·day−1 | 3.2±3.6 | 3.1±3.4 | 3.2±3.2 |
Data are presented as mean±sd, unless otherwise stated. COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; ICS: inhaled corticosteroid; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 s; % pred: % predicted; FVC: forced vital capacity; SGRQ: St George's Respiratory Questionnaire; BDI: baseline dyspnoea index. #: post-salbutamol.