Table 1 Clinical characteristics of the study population
Variables | Total cohort | Group aNE < 20 µg mL−1 | Group aNE ⩾20 µg mL−1 |
|---|---|---|---|
n = 40 | n = 15 | n = 25 | |
Demographics | |||
Median (IQR) age, years | 61 (53–69.5) | 65 (53–74) | 60 (53–67) |
Females, n (%) | 28 (70) | 14 (93) | 14 (56) |
Median (IQR) BMI, kg/m2 | 23.6 (20.1–25.9) | 24 (19.6–26.5) | 23.5 (21–25.4) |
Median (IQR) Weight, kg | 61 (52–73) | 61 (51–73) | 62 (53–73) |
Underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), n (%) | 4 (10) | 2 (13.3) | 2 (8) |
Former or current smoker, n (%) | 10 (25) | 6 (40) | 4 (16) |
Disease severity | |||
Median (IQR) BSI score | 8 (5–12) | 9 (6–11) | 8 (5–12) |
Median (IQR) FACED score | 3 (2–4) | 2 (1.5–4) | 3 (2–3) |
Radiology | |||
Median (IQR) Reiff score | 4 (3–6) | 3 (3–6) | 4 (3–6) |
Mean (SD) No. of lobes | 3.68 (1.4) | 3.66 (1.6) | 3.68 (1.3) |
4 + lobes involvement, n (%) | 20 (50) | 7 (46.6) | 13 (52) |
Clinical status and diagnostic results | |||
Median (IQR) total exacerbation previous year | 2 (1.5–4) | 3 (2–4) | 2 (1–4) |
≥ 2 exacerbations previous year, n (%) | 30 (75) | 12 (80) | 18 (72) |
≥ 3 exacerbations previous year, n (%) | 19 (45.7) | 10 (66.6) | 9 (36) |
≥ 1 hospitalization previous year, n (%) | 7 (17.5) | 2 (13.3) | 5 (20) |
Emphysema, n (%) | 4 (10) | 1 (6.66) | 3 (12) |
Quality of life | |||
Median (IQR) QoL-B questionnaire—Physical | 53.3 (38.3–66.7) | 50 (35–73.3) | 56.6 (40–66.7) |
Median (IQR) QoL-B questionnaire—Role | 56.6 (45–73.3) | 53.3 (46.7–66.7) | 66.6 (41.6–73.3) |
Median (IQR) QoL-B questionnaire—Vitality | 44.4 (33.3–55.6) | 44.4 (33.3–55.6) | 55.6 (25–55.6) |
Median (IQR) QoL-B questionnaire—Emotion | 75 (50–91.7) | 70.8 (52–83.3) | 79.1 (52–91.7) |
Median (IQR) QoL-B questionnaire—Social | 52.8 (33.3–75) | 55.6 (43.7–72.9) | 45.8 (33.3–72.9) |
Median (IQR) QoL-B questionnaire – Treatment Burden | 55.6 (44.4–66.7) | 55.6 (44.4–66.7) | 55.6 (44.4–66.7) |
Median (IQR) QoL-B questionnaire—Health | 33.3 (20.8–52) | 33.3 (27–54.8) | 33.3 (16.7–48) |
Median (IQR) QoL-B questionnaire—Respiration | 68.5 (48.1–77.8) | 68.5 (50.6–77.8) | 70.4 (50–74.1) |
Relevant comorbidities | |||
Median (IQR) BACI | 0 (0–3) | 3 (0–3) | 0 (0–3) |
COPD, n (%) | 4 (10) | 2 (13.3) | 2 (8) |
MRGE, n (%) | 14 (35) | 7 (46.6) | 7 (28) |
Asthma, n(%) | 7 (17.5) | 4 (26.6) | 3 (12) |
Pulmonary function | |||
Mean (SD) FEV1, % | 71.3 (23.1) | 71.8 (18) | 68.2 (29.4) |
FEV1 ≤ 35, n (%) | 4 (10) | 1 (6.6) | 3 (12) |
FEV1 ≤ 50, n (%) | 7 (17.5) | 1 (6.6) | 6 (24) |
Chronic therapy | |||
PPI, n (%) | 16 (40) | 8 (53.3) | 8 (32) |
LABA, n (%) | 31 (77.5) | 12 (80) | 19 (76) |
LAMA, n (%) | 22 (55) | 10 (66.6) | 12 (48) |
ICS, n (%) | 22 (55) | 7 (46.6) | 15 (60) |
Sputum biomarkers | |||
Median (IQR) Active neutrophil elastase, µg/ml | 24.7 (13–38.5) | 7 (2.1–15.2) | 35.3 (28–48) |
Median (IQR) LTB4, ng/mL | 1.4 (0.6–4) | 0.9 (0.3–1.7) | 2 (0.8–4.6) |
Median (IQR) PGE2, ng/mL | 3.6 (1.4–5.5) | 1.5 (0.9–3.8) | 4.1 (2.6–5.7) |
Median (IQR) 15-HETE, ng/mL | 16.6 (8.6–26.6) | 18.4 (6.8–25.4) | 14.9 (8.9–26.3) |
Median (IQR) 14-OH DHA, ng/mL | 1.6 (0.91–2.6) | 2.1 (1.1–5.4) | 1.4 (0.8–2.1) |
Median (IQR) 17-OH DHA, ng/mL | 6.8 (4.1–11.7) | 7.3 (4.8–21.5) | 5.9 (2.7–10.2) |
Median (IQR) LTE, ng/mL | 0.17 (0.0–0.4) | 0.17 (0.0–0.4) | 0.18 (0.0–0.4) |
Real Time PCR Bacterial Identification | |||
Positive to Psa, n (%) | 21 (52.5) | 5 (33.3) | 16 (64) |
Median (IQR) Psa genome copies*mL−1 | 2,583,621.9 (0–106,128,808.9) | 0 (0–10,530,297.8) | 42,243,767 (0.0–145,083,102.5) |
Positive to Hi, n (%) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
Median (IQR) Hi genome copies*mL−1 | 0 (0–0) | 0 (0–0) | 0 (0–0) |
Positive to Sa, n (%) | 16 (40) | 6 (40) | 10 (40) |
MRSA, n (%) | 4 (10) | 1 (6.6) | 3 (12) |
Median (IQR) Sa genome copies*mL−1 | 0 (0–5031.1) | 0 (0.0–5602.1) | 0 (0.0–4053.1) |
Positive to Spn, n (%) | 11 (27.5) | 4 (26.6) | 7 (28) |
Median (IQR) Spn genome copies*mL−1 | 0 (0–276.9) | 0 (0.0–268.2) | 0 (0.0–245.4) |