Characteristics of 2017 GOLD COPD group A: a multicenter cross-sectional CAP study in Japan

Figures & data

Figure 1 Distribution of the 2015 GOLD and 2017 GOLD ABCD classification when stratifying group A according to the mMRC grade and exacerbation history.

Note: The 2017 GOLD classification significantly increased the proportion of patients in groups A and B, while it decreased the proportion of patients in groups C and D.
Abbreviation: Ex, exacerbation.

Table 1 Patient characteristics between group A and groups B–D

Characteristics	Group A (n=569)	Groups B–D (n=599)	P-value
Age, years	70.6±8.3	73.5±8.1	<0.0001
Male	519 (91.2)	516 (86.1)	<0.01
Never smoker	24 (4.2)	25 (4.2)	0.77
Former smoker	456 (80.2)	518 (86.5)	<0.01
Current smoker	89 (15.6)	56 (9.3)	<0.01
mMRC, grade	0.62±0.48	2.44±0.75	<0.0001
FVC, L	3.22±0.79	2.61±0.77	<0.0001
FEV1, L	1.83±0.60	1.27±0.51	<0.0001
FEV1/FVC, %	56.4±10.7	48.6±12.1	<0.0001
FEV1 % of predicted, %	69.9±18.3	50.1±17.7	<0.0001
GOLD 1	176 (30.9)	35 (5.8)	<0.0001
GOLD 2	308 (54.1)	255 (42.6)	<0.0001
GOLD 3	75 (13.2)	229 (38.2)	<0.0001
GOLD 4	10 (1.8)	80 (13.4)	<0.0001
Exacerbation, year^−1	0.21±0.40	0.83±1.06	<0.0001
Long-term oxygen therapy	12 (2.1)	111 (19.5)	<0.0001
Any COPD medication	536 (94.2)	590 (98.5)	<0.0001
Any LAMA or LAB A medication	527 (92.6)	587 (98.0)	<0.0001
Monotherapy of LAMA or LABA	333 (58.5)	212 (35.4)	<0.0001
LAMA or LAB A, non-use of ICS	228 (40.1)	133 (22.2)	<0.0001
LAMA or LAB A, + ICS	105 (18.5)	79 (13.2)	<0.05
Combination therapy of LAMA + LABA	194 (34.1)	375 (62.6)	<0.0001
LAMA + LABA, non-use of ICS	92 (16.2)	155 (25.9)	<0.0001
LAMA + LABA, + ICS	102 (17.9)	220 (36.7)	<0.0001

Note: Data are presented as n (%), mean ± SD, or median (interquartile range).

Abbreviations: ICS, inhaled corticosteroid; LABA, long-acting β-agonist; LAMA, long-acting muscarinic antagonist.

Figure 2 The proportion of group A according to the severity of airflow limitation.

Note: The more severe the airflow limitation was, the lower the proportion of group A.
Abbreviation: CAP, COPD Assessment in Practice.

Table 2 Patient characteristics between mMRC grades 0 and 1 in group A

Characteristics	mMRC 0 (n=214)	mMRC 1 (n=355)	P-value
Age, years	71 (66–77)	71 (66–77)	0.43
Male	195 (91.1)	324 (91.3)	0.95
Never smoker	7 (3.3)	17 (4.8)	0.38
Former smoker	172 (80.3)	286 (80.6)	0.96
Current smoker	35 (16.4)	52 (14.6)	0.58
FVC, L	3.34 (2.78–3.96)	3.18 (2.67–3.56)	<0.01
FEV1, L	2.01 (1.59–2.50)	1.73 (1.32–2.10)	<0.0001
FEV1/FVC, %	60.9 (53.9–66.7)	56.3 (47.1–64.4)	<0.0001
FEV1 % of predicted, %	77.7 (62.1–88.3)	67.7 (55.5–79.0)	<0.0001
GOLD 1	94 (43.9)	82 (23.1)	<0.0001
GOLD 2	97 (45.3)	211 (59.4)	<0.01
GOLD 3	23 (10.7)	52 (14.6)	0.18
GOLD 4	0 (0.0)	10 (2.8)	<0.05
Exacerbation	35 (16.4)	82 (23.1)	0.054
Long-term oxygen therapy	5 (2.3)	7 (2.0)	0.77
Any COPD medication	197 (92.1)	339 (95.5)	0.09
Any LAMA or LABA medication	188 (87.9)	339 (95.5)	<0.001
Monotherapy of LAMA or LABA	130 (60.7)	203 (57.2)	0.66
LAMA or LAB A, non-use of ICS	87 (40.7)	141 (39.7)	0.83
LAMA or LAB A, + ICS	43 (20.1)	62 (17.5)	0.43
Combination therapy of LAMA + LABA	58 (27.1)	136 (38.3)	<0.01
LAMA + LABA, non-use of ICS	22 (10.3)	70 (19.7)	<0.01
LAMA + LABA, + ICS	36 (16.8)	66 (18.6)	0.59

Note: Data are presented as n (%), mean ± SD, or median (interquartile range).

Abbreviations: ICS, inhaled corticosteroid; LABA, long-acting β-agonist; LAMA, long-acting muscarinic antagonist.

Figure 3 Differences in the airflow limitation and exacerbation risk in accordance with the categories of mMRC grade 0 in group A, mMRC grade 1 in group A, group A, and groups B–D.

Notes: (A) Significant differences in %FEV₁ were found. (B) Regarding the proportion of patients with exacerbations, a significant difference between group A and groups B–D was found, and a difference between mMRC grades 0 and 1 in group A was found.
Abbreviation: CAP, COPD Assessment in Practice.