Disproportionate utilization of healthcare resources among veterans with COPD: a retrospective analysis of factors associated with COPD healthcare cost

Table 2 Summary of quantitative demographic and clinical characteristics

Variable	N	Mean ± SD	Median (25^th-75^th percentile)^α
Age (years)	840	67.29 ±10.85	66 (59–79)
Hospitalizations*	840	0.49 ± 1.00	0 (0–1)
Clinic Visits*	840	4.16 ± 5.43	2 (1–5)
ED Visits*	840	0.28 ± 0.79	0 (0–8)^β
Number of Prescriptions*	700	10.55 ± 9.49	7 (4–15)
BMI (kg/m²)	834	27.87 ± 6.83	27 (23–32)
FEV1 (L)	689	1.85 ± 0.80	1.76 (1.21-2.37)
FVC (L)	689	3.23 ± 0.98	3.12 (2.56-3.82)
DLCO (ml/min/mmHg)	540	14.34 ± 6.05	13.5 (9.9-18.2)
EF (%)	390	54 ± 12	58 (53–63)
Maximum serum
bicarbonate (mEq/L)	758	30.07 ± 3.68	30 (28–32)
Smoking (pack years)	259	62.77 ± 37.53	55 (36–80)

*Per patient; ^αexcept where indicated; ^β(minimum-maximum) SD, Standard deviation; ED, Emergency department; BMI, Body mass index; FEV1, Forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC, Forced vital capacity; DLCO, Diffusing capacity; EF, Ejection fraction.

ISSN: 1478-7547