Table 1 Baseline patient characteristics
|  | TIS n = 26 | Placebo n = 26 |  | TIS n = 26 | Placebo n = 26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age, mean (SD) | 67.9 (6.6) | 64.1 (14.0) | Inhaled medication, n (%) | Â | Â |
Female, n (%) | 13 (50) | 17 (65.4) | Â SABA | 15 (57.7) | 18 (69.2) |
No. exacerbations in the year before study entry, median (IQR) | 4 (3–5) | 3.5 (2–5.25) |  SAMA | 3 (11.5) | 8 (30.8) |
Smoking status, n (%) | Â | Â | Â LABA | 17 (65.4) | 18 (69.2) |
 Current | 1 (3.8) | 1 (3.8) |  LAMA | 10 (38.5) | 10 (38.5) |
 Former | 13 (50) | 15 (57.7) |  ICS | 17 (65.4) | 19 (73.1) |
 Never | 12 (46.2) | 10 (38.5) |  Mucolytics (hypertonic saline) in the years before study entry | 5 (19.2) | 4 (15.4) |
Etiology, n (%) | Â | Â | Pathogens in sputum at baseline, n (%) | Â | Â |
 Post-infective | 4 (15.4) | 8 (30.8) |  Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 5 (19.2) | 9 (34.6) |
 Idiopathic | 6 (23.1) | 3 (11.5) |  Haemophilus influenzae | 7 (26.9) | 9 (34.6) |
 COPD | 6 (23.1) | 6 (23.1) |  Staphylococcus aureus | 4 (15.4) | 2 (7.7) |
 Asthma | 3 (11.5) | 4 (15.4) |  Streptococcus pneumoniae | 0 | 1 (3.8) |
 Immunodeficiency | 3 (11.5) | 2 (7.7) |  Other | 10 (38.4) | 5 (19.3) |
 Rheumatic disease | 1 (3.8) | 1 (3.8) | QoL questionnaires, mean (SD) |  |  |
 Primary ciliary dyskinesia | 0 | 1 (3.8) |  QoL-B Physical | 49.8 (30.0) | 42.5 (34.8) |
 Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency | 0 | 1 (3.8) |  QoL-B Role | 64.4 (24.7) | 59.2 (23.9) |
 Yellow nail syndrome | 1 (3.8) | 0 |  QoL-B Vitality | 53.1 (17.4) | 48.7 (17.6) |
 Aspiration | 2 (7.7) | 0 |  QoL-B Emotional | 87.9 (10.5) | 82.4 (16.5) |
Charlson comorbidity index, n (%) | Â | Â | Â QoL-B Social | 65.0 (20.9) | 60.1 (23.4) |
 1 to 2 | 19 (73.1) | 23 (88.5) |  QoL-B Treatment Burden | 66.4 (17.9) | 64.0 (19.4) |
 3 to 4 | 7 (26.9) | 3 (11.5) |  QoL-B Health perceptions | 42.4 (16.8) | 43.2 (18.9) |
Pulmonary function % predicted at baseline, mean (SD) | Â | Â | Â QoL-B Respiratory symptoms | 56.1 (17.8) | 57.8 (16.7) |
 FEV1 | 65.9 (24.9) | 70.5 (24.0) |  LRTI-VAS Total score | 21.0 (7.3) | 21.0 (8.5) |
 FVC | 84.4 (20.1) | 90.2 (18.6) |  Leicester Cough Total score | 13.4 (2.9) | 13.8 (4.2) |
Maintenance AZM, n, (%) | 7 (26.9) | 4 (15.4) | Â | Â | Â |
Duration of AZM therapy in weeks, median (IQR) | 87.8 (3–500) | 49.7 (4–100) |  |  |  |
Maintenance prednisolone during the study < 10 mg, n (%) | 5 (19.2) | 0 |  |  |  |
Maintenance immunoglobulin therapy, n (%) | 1 (3.8) | 1 (3.8) | Â | Â | Â |
Physiotherapy, n (%) | 7 (26.9) | 8 (30.8) | Â | Â | Â |