The elastin peptide VGVAPG increases CD4+ T-cell IL-4 production in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Table 2 Characteristics of the study population

	COPD patients n = 29	Controls n = 13
Sex, n (male/female)	15/14	4/9
Age (years)	60 ± 10*	44 ± 19
BMI, kg/m²	25 ± 5	27 ± 6
Smoking history
Never smokers	0% (0)*	46% (6)
Ex-smokers	62% (18)	31% (4)
Smokers	38% (11)	23% (3)
Pack-years	44 ± 18*	18 ± 20
Symptoms
Dyspnea ≥ 2 mMRC	62% (18)*	8% (1)
Chronic bronchitis	34% (10)*	0% (0)
At least one exacerbation in the previous year	76% (22)	0% (0)
Inhaled treatment
LAMA and/or LABA	55% (16)	0% (0)
ICS + LABA	31% (9)	0% (0)
Pulmonary function tests
FEV₁, L	1.33 ± 0.66*	2.91 ± 1.03
FEV₁, % predicted	48 ± 18*	101 ± 15
FVC, L	2.7 ± 1.02*	4 ± 0.93
FVC, % predicted	78 ± 21*	107 ± 17
FEV₁/FVC	0.48 ± 11*	0.79 ± 6
TLC, % predicted	125 ± 24*	103 ± 19
RV, % predicted	203 ± 66*	107 ± 39
Spirometric GOLD 1/2/3–4	1/13/15	NA
GOLD A/B/C/D	6/8/3/12	NA
CT emphysema score (total score/20)^a	7 ± 5	NA

Values are mean ± standard deviation or percentage (number)
BMI body mass index, LABA long-acting beat-agonist, LAMA long-acting muscarinic antagonist, ICS inhaled corticosteroid, FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in one second, FVC forced vital capacity, TLC total lung capacity, RV residual volume
*p < 0.05 vs control group
^aEmphysema score was determined using a visual score assigned to each lobe, based on the extent of tissue destruction from 0 (no emphysema) to 4 (> 75% destruction)

ISSN: 1465-993X