Table 1 Demographics, lung function and markers of systemic and local inflammation in never smokers, smokers and COPD patients

N (male/female)

40 (20/20)

40 (20/20

40 (20/20)

Age

57.0 ± 7.0

54.0 ± 6.2

59.2 ± 5.3^¤

Body mass index (kg/m²)

25.9 ± 3.7

24.3 ± 3.1

25.3 ± 4.1

Height (centimetres)

172 ± 10.0

172 ± 10.8

171 ± 7.6

Smoking history (pack years)

N/A

35.2 ± 12.4

38.0 ± 11

Cigarette/day (last 6 months)

N/A

17.8 ± 6.6

16.4 ± 6.4

FEV₁ (% predicted)

118.4 ± 12.8

109.5 ± 11.9^$$

78.9 ± 11.7^{$$$, ¤¤¤}

FVC (% predicted)

101.2 ± 10.7

96.9 ± 11.1

88.3 ± 12^{$$$, ¤¤¤}

FEV₁/FVC

0.82 ± 5.4

0.78 ± 4.7

0.61 ± 6.4^{$$$, ¤¤¤}

DLco (% predicted)

90.9 ± 10.8

77.9 ± 12.2^$$$

66.7 ± 13.0^{$$$, ¤¤¤}

TLC (% predicted)

106 ± 10.7

106.8 ± 11.1

108.2 ± 14.8

RV (% predicted)

102.1 ± 25.3

112.9 ± 22.5

138.0 ± 33.6^{$$$, ¤¤¤}

Chronic bronchitis (% of individuals)

0

25^$$$

23^$$$

Dyspnea score (CRQ)

6.8 ± 0.5

6.4 ± 0.77

6.0 ± 0.85^{$$$, ¤¤}

White blood cell count (10⁹/L)

5.7 ± 1.1

7.4 ± 1.6^$$$

7.7 ± 1.9^$$$

Serum-high sensitive-CRP (g/L)

1.2 ± 0.89

1.9 ± 1.8

3.0 ± 2.7^{$$$, ¤¤}

Serum-orosomucoid (g/L)

0.69 ± 0.12

0.78 ± 0.18^$

0.84 ± 0.16^$$$

Serum-haptoglobin (g/L)

0.88 ± 0.37

1.2 ± 0.50^$$$

1.4 ± 0.46^$$$

Serum-immunoglobulin G (g/L)

11.1 ± 2.0

9.1 ± 1.8^$$$

9.6 ± 1.8^$$$

BAL cell concentration (10⁶/L)

121.0 ± 49.8

557.0 ± 230^$$$

378.3 ± 277^{$$$, ¤¤¤}

BAL macrophages (10⁶/L)

103.4 ± 40.3

535.4. ± 160^$$$

358.0 ± 272^{$$$, ¤¤¤}

BAL lymphocytes (10⁶/L)

15.6 ± 17.6

14.1 ± 12.0

13.2 ± 8.8

BAL neutrophils (10⁶/L)

1.8 ± 1.6

4.6 ± 5.3^$$

4.1 ± 3.7^$$

BAL eosinophils (10⁶/L)

0.27 ± 0.53

1.5 ± 3.0

2.5 ± 8.2

BAL recovery (%)

64.5 ± 11.8

58.4 ± 10.7

45.8 ± 14.3^{$$$, ¤¤¤}