Table 2 Subject characteristics at baseline

 Age (yrs)*

63 ± 7

68 ± 6

<0.0001

 Female gender^a

352 (36)

11 (37)

0.97

 BMI (kg/m²)*

26.8 ± 5.8

27.3 ± 7.8

0.78

 Current smoker (%)^a

366 (38)

3 (10)

0.004

 Pack years (yrs)*

47 ± 25

56 ± 42

0.27

 FEV₁ (L)*

1.42 ± 0.51

1.27 ± 0.43

0.11

 FEV₁ (% predicted)*

51 ± 15

48 ± 13

0.44

 GOLD Stage^b

  II

480 (49)

14 (47)

0.93

  III

392 (40)

14 (47)

  IV

98 (10)

2 (7)

 Number of previous exacerbations^b

  0

531 (55)

20 (67)

0.29

  1

239 (25)

5 (17)

  2

116 (12)

2 (7)

   > 2

84 (9)

3 (10)

 6MWD (meters)*

386 ± 119

335 ± 105

0.02

 mMRC dyspnoea score; median (Q1; Q3) ^b

1 (1;2)

2 (1;3)

0.02

 %LAA (%)*

16.3 ± 11.3

17.4 ± 10.5

0.61

 BODE index; median (Q1; Q3) ^b

3 (1;4)

3.5 (2;5)

0.06

 SGRQ total score*

46 ± 18

50 ± 20

0.29

 FACIT fatigue score*

36 ± 10

31 ± 12

0.01

 Cardiovascular history

304 (31)

12 (40)

0.42

 Hypertension

381 (39)

14 (47)

0.53

 Asthma history

225 (23)

8 (27)

0.82

 Diabetes type II

82 (8)

3 (10)

0.97

 Osteoarthritis

125 (13)

3 (10)

0.85

 Osteoporosis

121 (12)

6 (20)

0.35

 Rheumatoid arthritis

29 (3)

0 (0)

0.68

 Inflammatory bowel disorder

48 (5)

1 (3)

0.98

 Inhaled corticosteroids

140 (14)

3 (10)

0.68

 Systemic corticosteroids

8 (0.8)

0 (0)

0.59

 Statins

237 (24)

6 (20)

0.73