Table 3:

Univariable correlation with serious adverse events for variables from history for 945 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Characteristic*Status for serious adverse event; no. (%) of patientsp value
Yes
n = 74
No
n = 871
Age, yr, mean ± SD73.4 ± 9.972.6 ± 10.80.5
Sex, male38 (51.4)450 (51.7)> 0.9
Arrival by ambulance (n = 73 and 871)39 (53.4)417 (47.9)0.4
Medical history
 Admission for respiratory distress29 (39.2)239 (27.4)0.03
 Intubation for respiratory distress6 (8.1)21 (2.4)0.005
 Heart failure29 (39.2)170 (19.5)< 0.001
 Myocardial infarction13 (17.6)136 (15.6)0.7
 Angina9 (12.2)96 (11.0)0.8
 Coronary bypass graft surgery10 (13.5)58 (6.7)0.03
 Percutaneous coronary intervention2 (2.7)33 (3.8)0.6
 Pacemaker4 (5.4)39 (4.5)0.7
 Atrial fibrillation15 (20.3)131 (15.0)0.2
 Peripheral vascular disease intervention8 (10.8)28 (3.2)0.001
 Cancer10 (13.5)127 (14.6)0.8
 Hypertension44 (59.5)379 (43.5)0.008
 Stroke or transient ischemic attack3 (4.1)78 (9.0)0.2
 Diabetes mellitus14 (18.9)172 (19.7)0.9
 Chronic renal failure6 (8.1)47 (5.4)0.3
Duration of respiratory distress, h, mean ± SD (n = 42 and 728)85.3 ± 82.087.2 ±116.00.9
Home oxygen therapy (n = 72 and 869)14 (19.4)104 (12.0)0.07
Smoker, pack-years, mean ± SD (n = 25 and 521)41.5 ± 21.941.8 ± 29.1> 0.9
Current respiratory medications (n = 73 and 865)67 (91.8)780 (90.2)0.7
 Antibiotics (n = 73 and 864)14 (19.2)176 (20.4)0.8
 Inhaled anticholinergics (n = 73 and 864)51 (69.9)529 (61.2)0.2
 Inhaled β-agonists (n = 73 and 864)56 (76.7)628 (72.7)0.5
 Inhaled steroids (n = 73 and 864)48 (65.8)516 (59.7)0.3
 Oral steroids (n = 73 and 864)10 (13.7)141 (16.3)0.6
Current cardiac medications (n = 73 and 862)60 (82.2)631 (73.2)0.09
 Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (n = 73 and 859)23 (31.5)239 (27.8)0.5
 Antiarrhythmics (n = 73 and 859)1 (1.4)28 (3.3)0.4
 Anticoagulants (n = 73 and 859)14 (19.2)146 (17.0)0.6
 Antiplatelet medications (n = 73 and 858)28 (38.4)251 (29.3)0.1
 β-Blockers30 (40.5)229 (26.3)0.008
 Calcium channel blockers (n = 73 and 859)18 (24.7)183 (21.3)0.5
 Digoxin (n = 73 and 859)9 (12.3)54 (6.3)0.05
 Diuretics36 (48.6)301 (34.6)0.02
 Nitrates (n = 73 and 858)12 (16.4)124 (14.5)0.7
 Statins (n = 73 and 858)32 (43.8)291 (33.9)0.09
Caretaker at home44 (59.5)455 (52.2)0.4
Able to drink fluids in emergency department (n = 40 and 688)40 (100.0)673 (97.8)> 0.9
  • Note: SD = standard deviation.

  • * Where data were not available for all patients in both groups, n values for both groups are shown parenthetically.

  • Except where indicated otherwise.