Characteristics of 15 605 individuals in the general population with 10 years follow-up according to chronic airway disease
| All (N=15 605) | Controls (N=11 328) | Asthma with full reversibility (N=1519) | Asthma with persistent obstruction (N=176) | COPD (N=1232) | Not classifiable AL (N=1350) | |
| Age—year | 65.0 (56.8–72.4) | 63.7 (55.7–71.3) | 65.1 (57.0–72.3)* | 69.0 (60.7–75.0)* | 69.6 (63.0–76.1)* | 69.7 (62.1–76.8)* |
| Men—no (%) | 6612 (42) | 4811 (42) | 555 (37)* | 78 (44) | 577 (47)* | 591 (44) |
| Height—cm | 170 (163–177) | 170 (164–177) | 169 (163–176)* | 168 (162–179) | 170 (164–177) | 169 (163–176)* |
| FEV1—L | 2.74 (2.24–3.33) | 2.87 (2.40–3.47) | 2.50 (2.04–3.06)* | 2.04 (1.41–2.71)* | 2.27 (1.81–2.78)* | 2.26 (1.77–2.82)* |
| FEV1 % of predicted value | 99 (88–109) | 102 (93–112) | 93 (83–103)* | 77 (63–89)* | 86 (73–96)* | 88 (75–98)* |
| FVC—L | 3.69 (3.06–4.45) | 3.74 (3.14–4.49) | 3.52 (2.94–4.30)* | 3.38 (2.51–4.38)* | 3.63 (2.96–4.40)* | 3.49 (2.77–4.36)* |
| FVC % of predicted value | 104 (94–114) | 104 (95–113) | 102 (91–112)* | 96 (85–109)* | 105 (92–117) | 104 (91–116) |
| FEV1/FVC | 0.75 (0.70–0.79) | 0.77 (0.74–0.80) | 0.69 (0.67–0.76)* | 0.62 (0.56–0.66)* | 0.64 (0.60–0.66)* | 0.66 (0.62–0.68)* |
| FEV1 decline—mL/year | 26 (11–42) | 24 (8–38) | 30 (13–46)* | 30 (16–50)* | 37 (23–54)* | 32 (17–51)* |
| Never-smokers—no (%) | 6896 (44) | 5469 (48) | 657 (43)* | 66 (38)* | 310 (25)* | 394 (29)* |
| Former smokers—no (%) | 7161 (46) | 5007 (44) | 739 (49)* | 88 (50) | 651 (53)* | 676 (50)* |
| Current smokers—no (%) | 1547 (10) | 851 (8) | 123 (8) | 22 (13)* | 271 (22)* | 280 (21)* |
| Unknown smokers—no (%) | 1 (<1) | 1 (<1) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Tobacco consumption—pack-year† | 15.0 (5.6–30.0) | 12.5 (5.0–25.0) | 14.0 (5.0–26.4)* | 23.4 (10.0–36.0)* | 25.0 (12.0–38.5)* | 25.0 (10.8–40.0)* |
| Airway medication—no (%) | 845 (5) | 82 (<1) | 395 (26)* | 98 (56)* | 69 (6)* | 201 (15)* |
| Self-reported asthma—no (%) | 1232 (8) | 0 (0) | 854 (56)* | 176 (100)* | 0 (0) | 202 (15)* |
| Blood eosinophils—cells/μL | 150 (100–230) | 150 (100–210) | 150 (100–210)* | 200 (110–300)* | 170 (100–240)* | 170 (100–250)* |
| FeNO—ppb‡ | 13 (9–19) | 13 (10–19) | 13 (10–19) | 12 (7–20) | 12 (8–19)* | 13 (8–18) |
Data presented as median and 25th and 75th percentiles or number (per cent). Number may not add up to 100% due to rounding. Based on the Copenhagen General Population Study.
*p<0.05 for comparison with controls.
†Only for current and former smokers.
‡Number of individuals with available information on FeNO: All (N=2853), controls (N=1902), asthma with full reversibility (N=331), asthma with persistent obstruction (N=44), COPD (N=320) and not classifiable AL (N=256).
AL, airflow limitation; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; FeNO, fraction of nitric oxide; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FVC, forced vital capacity.