Table 2

Patients' characteristics and quality of life scores: 395 middle-aged male smokers.

CharacteristicsMean (SD) or %
Age, (years)55.4 (6.3)
Smoking history, (pack years)27.1 (19.3)
No employment/retired29%
Living alone9%
Comorbiditya27%
Chronic cough23%
BMI26.6 (3.8)
FEV1 (L)3.5 (0.7)
FEV1 % predicted98 (16)
Lung function
 No airflow limitation59.7%
 Mild COPD (GOLD I)29.6%
 Moderate COPD (GOLD II)10.6%
Functional limitations by dyspnoea
 None74.9%
Mild (MRC I-II)17.7%
Moderate or severe (MRC III-V)7.3%
Generic QOL componentsb (range 0–100) SF36
 Physical functioning86.3 (17.7)
 Role functioning (physical)85.9 (29.5)
 Bodily pain83.3 (22.5)
 General health66.1 (18.8)
 Vitality68.3 (19.2)
 Social functioning87.9 (18.4)
 Role functioning (emotional)88.9 (26.9)
 Mental health78.4 (16.4)
Disease specific QOL componentsb (range 1–7)
 QOLRIQ
 Total score6.5 (0.5)
 Breathing problems6.1 (0.8)
 Physical problems6.4 (0.7)
 Emotions6.5 (0.7)
 General activities6.6 (0.8)
 Situations triggering or enhancing breathing problems6.7 (0.6)
 Daily and domestic activities6.5 (0.6)
 Social activities/relationships/sexuality6.8 (0.5)
  • a Comorbidity denotes cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, musculoskeletal disease, cancer, renal disease.

  • b Higher scores indicate a better quality of life. BMI = body mass index; FEV1 = forced expiratory volume in one second; COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; GOLD = global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease guidelines; (L) = Litres; MRC = Medical Research Council; QOL = quality of life; QOLRIQ = quality of life in respiratory illness questionnaire.