Patient demographics and comorbidities
| Parameter | Fibreoptic bronchoscopy n=149 (%) | Conservative measures n=28 (%) | P value |
| Age (mean±SD) | 61.8±14.4 | 71.9±12.2 | 0.075 |
| Sex | |||
| Male | 87 (58.4) | 15 (54) | 0.679 |
| Female | 62 (41.6) | 13 (46) | 0.679 |
| Comorbid condition | |||
| Obstructive airway disease | 71 (47.7) | 13 (46.4) | 1.00 |
| Congestive heart failure | 33 (22.1) | 8 (28.6) | 0.469 |
| End-stage renal disease | 29 (19.5) | 3 (10.7) | 0.769 |
| Lung cancer | 15 (10.1) | 4 (14.3) | 0.509 |
| Dementia | 16 (10.7) | 3 (10.7) | 1.00 |
| Stroke | 26 (17.4) | 5 (17.9) | 1.00 |
| Cirrhosis | 18 (12.1) | 4 (14.3) | 0.756 |
| Neuromuscular disease | 1 (0.7) | 0 | 1.00 |
| Chronic respiratory failure | 38 (25.5) | 4 (14.3) | 0.235 |
| Ventilator dependency | 32 (18) | 4 (14.3) | 0.454 |