Characterization of secondary care for COPD in Sweden

Figures & data

Figure 1. Reclassification of severity for the patient population according to GOLD 2014 risk evaluation groups A–D

Table 1. Patient characteristics

	COPD group C n = 48 (12.8%)	COPD group D n = 325 (87.1%)	p
Female sex	23 (47.9%)	185 (56.9%)	0.24
Age	72.0 (8.19)	71.1 (7.80)	0.21
Current smoking	8 (16.7%)	53 (16.3%)	0.95
Cumulative exposure (pack years)	33.7 (28.7)	34.3 (16.7)	0.03
BMI
<22	15 (31.3%)	99 (30.5%)	0.60
≥22, <30	29 (60.4%)	182 (56.0%)
≥30	4 (8.3%)	44 (13.5%)
Number of exacerbations in the previous year	0.9 (1.2)	1.9 (2.6)	0.002
Cardiovascular disease	30 (62.5%)	193 (59.9%)	0.74
Diabetes	3 (6.3%)	37 (11.5%)	0.28
Renal impairment	2 (4.2%)	12 (3.8%)	0.89
Musculoskeletal disease	9 (18.8%)	81 (25.5%)	0.31
Osteoporosis	9 (19.1%)	94 (31.3%)	0.09
Depression	4 (8.3%)	58 (81.1%)	0.09

Patient characteristics distributed over severity group (GOLD 2014).

Data presented as number (%) or mean (standard deviation).

Figure 2. Comorbid conditions. Frequency of comorbid conditions in the patient population

Figure 3. Exacerbation frequency in GOLD 2014 groups. Percentage of patients distributed over number of exacerbations during the previous year. SD = standard deviation

Table 2. Pharmacological interventions by disease severity

	III n = 259 (69.4%)	IV n = 114 (30.6%)	p	C n = 48 (12.9%)	D n = 325 (87.1%)	p
Only bronchodilators (LAMA and/or LABA)	29 (11.2%)	3 (2.6%)	0.007	9 (18.8%)	23 (7.1%)	0.007
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) with or without bronchodilators	225 (86.9%)	110 (96.5%)	0.005	39 (81.3%)	296 (91.1%)	0.036
Triple inhaled therapy (LAMA, LABA and ICS)	196 (75.7%)	85 (74.6%)	0.818	31 (64.6%)	250 (76.9%)	0.064
Influenza vaccination	198 (76.4%)	84 (73.7%)	0.567	30 (62.5%)	252 (77.5%)	0.024
Pneumococcal vaccination	156 (60.2%)	79 (69.3%)	0.095	24 (50%)	211 (64.9%)	0.046

Pharmacological treatment groups and vaccinations distributed over disease severity according to GOLD 2011 stage III/IV and GOLD 2014 group C/D. LAMA = long-acting muscarinic antagonists, LABA = long-acting beta-2-agonists, ICS = inhaled corticosteroids.

Figure 4. Inhalation therapy. Inhalation therapy groups distributed over the patient population. No MT = no maintenance therapy, LAMA = long-acting muscarinic antagonists, LABA = long-acting beta-2-agonists, ICS = inhaled corticosteroids

Table 3. Patient education and exacerbation frequency

	Univariate linear regression (95% CI)	p	Multivariate linear regression (95% CI)	p
Female sex	0.37 (−0.13 to 0.87)	0.143	0.19 (−0.34 to 0.72)	0.486
Age	−0.004 (−0.04 to 0.03)	0.817	−0.02 (−0.06 to 0.01)	0.167
FEV1% pred	−0.04 (−0.07 to −0.01)	0.008	−0.02 (−0.05 to 0.02)	0.321
Comorbidity score	0.50 (0.31 to 0.69)	<0.0001	0.51 (0.31 to 0.70)	<0.0001
Patient education	−0.69 (−1.26 to −0.12)	0.017	−0.79 (−1.39 to −0.19)	0.010

The multivariate model included sex and age (a priori confounding factors) and comorbidity index and FEV₁% pred (statistically significant in univariate analyses). FEV₁% pred = forced expiratory volume in one second in percentage of predicted value. CI = confidence interval.

Figure 5. Resources at respiratory units. Proportions of secondary care units with available resources at the unit