Effectiveness of expiratory technique and induced sputum in obtaining good quality sputum from patients acutely hospitalized with suspected lower respiratory tract infection: a statistical analysis plan for a randomized controlled trial

Table 1 Demographic and baseline clinical characteristics

Variable	Overall	Group 1 total (n =)	Group 2 total (n =)
Variable	Overall	Tracheal suction (n =)	Forced expiratory technique (n =), induced sputum (n =)
Site
Aabenraa
Sønderborg
Sex, n (%)
Age, mean (SD)
Smoking status
Current smokers, n (%)
Ex-smokers, n (%)
Non-smokers, n (%)
Symptoms
Cough, n (%)
Expectoration, n (%)
Chest tightness, n (%)
Dyspnea, n (%)
Severity assessment
CURB-65 score* 0–1, n (%)
CURB-65 score* 2, n (%)
CURB-65 score* 3–5, n (%)
PSI* risk class 2–3, n (%)
PSI* risk class 4, n (%)
PSI* risk class 5, n (%)
Triage level 1, n (%)
Triage level 2–3, n (%)
Triage level 4–5, n (%)
Diagnostic packages
Airways symptoms, n (%)
Fever, n (%)
Dyspnea, n (%)
Unspecific illness, n (%)
Suspicion of COVID-19 infection, n (%)
Other, n (%)
Suspicion of pneumonia, n (%)
SARS-COV-2 positive at admission, n (%)
Comorbidities
COPD*, n (%)
Asthma, n (%)
DM*, n (%)
CVD*, n (%)
Cancer, n (%)
Other, n (%)
Vital parameters
SaO₂*, mean (SD)
RR*, median (IQR)
HR*, median (IQR)
Systolic blood pressure, median (IQR)
Diastolic blood pressure, median (IQR)
Fever > 38 °C, n (%)
Altered mental status, n (%)
Blood tests
C-reactive protein, mean (SD)
Leucocytes, mean (SD)
Neutrophils, mean (SD)
Did the patient receive antibiotic treatment
Within 1 month, n (%)
Before sputum collection, n (%)
Inhaled medications, n (%)
Length of hospital stay, mean (SD)

*CURB-65 score, score for pneumonia severity based on confusion, urin, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and age; PSI, Pneumonia Severity Index; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, DM, diabetes mellitus type 1 and type 2; CVD, cardiovascular disease; SaO₂, oxygen saturation; RR, respiratory rate; HR, heart rate

ISSN: 1745-6215