Table 1 Baseline characteristics
Characteristic | Prompt therapy group | Delayed therapy group | Standardized difference |
|---|---|---|---|
Number of patients, N | 1466 | 1516 | |
Age, n (%) | |||
40–64 years | 222 (15.1) | 265 (17.5) | 0.06 |
≥ 65 years | 1244 (84.9) | 1251 (82.5) | |
Missing | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | |
Mean, years | 73.4 | 72.6 | 0.08 |
Sex, n (%) | |||
Male | 1221 (83.3) | 1256 (82.8) | 0.01 |
Female | 245 (16.7) | 260 (17.2) | 0.01 |
Missing | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | – |
Smoking status, n (%) | |||
Current smoker | 97 (6.6) | 48 (3.2) | 0.16 |
Non-smoker | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | – |
Ex-smoker | 10 (0.7) | 0 (0.0) | 0.12 |
Unknown | 1359 (92.7) | 1468 (96.8) | 0.19 |
Body mass index at and 365 days prior to the index date (kg/m2) | |||
Available, n (%) | 145 (9.9) | 86 (5.7) | |
Mean | 22.132 | 22.081 | 0.01 |
Missing, n (%) | 1321 (90.1) | 1430 (94.3) | |
Lung function test, n (%) | |||
Present | 664 (45.3) | 193 (12.7) | 0.77 |
Not present | 802 (54.7) | 1323 (87.3) | |
Medication | |||
Systemic corticosteroid, n (%) | |||
Used | 56 (3.8) | 29 (1.9) | 0.11 |
Not used | 1410 (96.2) | 1487 (98.1) | |
Number of systemic corticosteroids | |||
Available, n (%) | 1466 (100.0) | 1516 (100.0) | |
Mean | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.05 |
Antibiotics prescription, n (%) | |||
Used | 391 (26.7) | 309 (20.4) | 0.15 |
Not used | 1075 (73.3) | 1207 (79.6) | |
Number of antibiotic prescriptions | |||
Available, n (%) | 1466 (100.0) | 1516 (100.0) | |
Mean | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.05 |
Comorbidity | |||
Charlson Comorbidity Index | |||
Mild, n (%) | 1339 (91.3) | 1432 (94.5) | 0.12 |
Moderate, n (%) | 50 (3.4) | 26 (1.7) | 0.11 |
Severe, n (%) | 77 (5.3) | 58 (3.8) | 0.07 |
Available, n (%) | 1466 (100.0) | 1516 (100.0) | |
Mean | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.15 |
Missing, n (%) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | |
Number of hospitalizations excluding hospitalization due to COPD exacerbation or acute respiratory failure | |||
Available, n (%) | 1466 (100.0) | 1516 (100.0) | |
Mean | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.14 |
Missing, n (%) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | |
Lung cancer, n (%) | |||
Yes | 151 (10.3) | 91 (6.0) | 0.16 |
No | 1315 (89.7) | 1425 (94.0) | |
Malignant neoplasm of the bladder, n (%) | |||
Yes | 16 (1.1) | 4 (0.3) | 0.10 |
No | 1450 (98.9) | 1512 (99.7) | |
Lower respiratory tract infections, n (%) | |||
Yes | 61 (4.2) | 123 (8.1) | 0.17 |
No | 1405 (95.8) | 1393 (91.9) | |
Facility information, n (%) | |||
< 20 beds | 8 (0.5) | 4 (0.3) | 0.04 |
20 to < 100 beds | 7 (0.5) | 15 (1.0) | 0.06 |
100 to < 300 beds | 211 (14.4) | 363 (23.9) | 0.24 |
300 to < 500 beds | 287 (19.6) | 458 (30.2) | 0.25 |
≥ 500 beds | 953 (65.0) | 676 (44.6) | 0.42 |
Missing | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | – |
Phenotype, n (%) | |||
Chronic bronchitis | 185 (12.6) | 572 (37.7) | 0.60 |
Emphysema | 671 (45.8) | 652 (43.0) | 0.06 |
Unclassified | 774 (52.8) | 384 (25.3) | 0.59 |
Specialty information, n (%) | |||
Pulmonology, respiratory medicine | 719 (49.0) | 471 (31.1) | 0.37 |
Other | 747 (51.0) | 1045 (68.9) | 0.37 |