Table 1 Clinical characteristics of patients in the 3-sputum diagnosed and non-3 sputum diagnosed groups
Characteristic | Total | 3 sputum diagnosed group | non-3 sputum diagnosed group | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
No. of patients | 139 | 23 | 116 | |
Age: (years); median (range)a | 70 (62–75) | 73 (63–78) | 70 (61–75) | 0.333 |
Sex: female; n (%) | 117 (84.2) | 18 (78.3) | 99 (85.3) | 0.366 |
BMI: (kg/m2); median (range)a | 19.3 (17.5–21.3) | 18.6 (17–19.5) | 19.5 (18–21.5) | 0.014 |
Smoking: never; n (%) | 107 (77) | 16 (69.6) | 91 (78.4) | 0.417 |
Positive GPL-core serum IgA result; n (%) | 99 (71.2) | 17 (73.9) | 82 (70.7) | 1.000 |
Value of GPL-core serum IgA (U/mL); (range)a | 3.0 (1.2–7.4) | 5.4 (2.4–8.9) | 2.5 (1.2–6.7) | 0.253 |
Comorbidities: n (%) | ||||
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) | 18 (12.9) | 2 (8.7) | 16 (13.8) | 0.737 |
Sinusitis | 17 (12.2) | 2 (8.7) | 15 (12.9) | 0.738 |
Underlying pulmonary disease: n (%) | ||||
Emphysema | 5 (3.6) | 1 (4.3) | 4 (3.4) | 1.000 |
Interstitial pneumonia | 13 (9.4) | 2 (8.7) | 11 (9.5) | 1.000 |
Concomitant drug; n (%) | ||||
Corticosteroids | 12 (8.6) | 3 (13) | 9 (7.8) | 0.419 |
Immunosuppressant | 12 (8.6) | 2 (8.7) | 10 (8.6) | 1.000 |
Biopharmaceutical | 6 (4.3) | 1 (4.3) | 5 (4.3) | 1.000 |
Erythromycin | 8 (5.8) | 1 (4.3) | 7 (6) | 1.000 |
Infective MAC strain; n (%) | ||||
M. avium | 114 (82) | 19 (82.6) | 95 (81.9) | 1.000 |
M. intracellulare | 28 (20.1) | 4 (17.4) | 24 (20.7) | 1.000 |
Co-infection n (%) | ||||
P. aeruginosa | 8 (5.8) | 2 (8.7) | 6 (5.2) | 0.619 |
H. influenzae | 6 (4.3) | 1 (4.3) | 5 (4.3) | 1.000 |
MSSA | 15 (10.8) | 1 (4.3) | 14 (12.1) | 0.465 |
Aspergillus spp. | 2 (1.4) | 0 | 2 (1.7) | 1.000 |
Subjective symptoms (range)a | ||||
CAT score | 6.5 (3.3–12) | 10.0 (7–16.3) | 6 (3–11) | 0.075 |
Cough score b | 1 (1–2) | 2.5 (1–3) | 1 (0–2) | 0.038 |
Sputum scoreb | 1 (0–2) | 2 (1–3) | 1 (0–2) | 0.158 |
Chest CT score | ||||
Total chest CT score; median (range)a | 7 (4–10) | 9 (6.5–13) | 6 (4–9) | 0.011 |
Nodular lesion score in chest CT score | 3 (2–6) | 5 (2–8) | 3 (2–5) | 0.084 |
Infiltration score in chest CT score | 1 (0–2) | 1 (1–2) | 1 (0–2) | 0.155 |
Bronchiectasis score in chest CT score | 2 (1–3) | 2 (1–3) | 2 (1–3) | 0.612 |
Cavitary lesion score in chest CT score | 0 (0–0) | 0 (0–1) | 0 (0–0) | 0.069 |
Cavitary lesion; n (%) | 31 (22.3) | 9 (39.1) | 22 (19) | 0.037 |
Radiographic pattern; n (%) | 2 (1–3) | |||
Non-cavitary NBE type | 108 (77.7) | 14 (60.9) | 94 (81) | 0.052 |
FC type | 4 (2.9) | 2 (8.7) | 2 (1.7) | 0.128 |
Cavitary NBE type | 27 (19.4) | 7 (30.4) | 20 (17.2) | 0.156 |