Fig. 1

Results of univariate comparisons and optimal full matching based on the data given in Table 4. The grey rectangles show the effect estimates regarding TA versus TNA with their 95% confidence intervals. The black rectangles symbolize the estimate obtained after full matching for the predictors listed in Table 1. The results are presented in three different panels due to the need for different scaling. Panel A shows data from disease-specific quality of life (SGRQ), generic quality of life (EQ-VAS), a depression score (PHQ9), as well as the 8 items of COPD assessment test (CAT). Panel B shows the results for physical activity (IPAQ) and physical capacity (6-MWD). Panel C shows the results for lung function in terms of forced vital capacity (FVC) and intrathoracic gas volume (ITGV). It can be seen that most unadjusted differences were either reduced or even inverted after the adjustments that took into account differences in patients characteristics. For PHQ-9 even a significant reduction was observed after matching, suggesting a beneficial effect of triple therapy