Phenotypes’ characteristics prior to COPD diagnosis
| Phenotype A | Phenotype B | Phenotype C |
| Highest prevalence of severe COPD | Older age | Younger age |
| Highest number of COPD exacerbations in the past year | Larger majority of males | Overweight (one-third) |
| Hypertension (almost half) | Overweight (almost half) | Lowest number of COPD exacerbations in the past year |
| Depression (one-third) | Highest prevalence of diabetes | Better lung function |
| Most-treated overall | Highest prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities | Hypertension (almost half) |
| ICS (nearly all) | Hypertension (two-third) | Depression (one-third) |
| ICS+LABA (nearly all) | Coronary artery disease (more than half) | Least-treated overall |
| LAMA (large majority) | Acute myocardial infarction (more than half) | LAMA (one-third) |
| Mucolytics | Congestive cardiac failure (one-third) | Mucolytics |
| Depression (one-third) | ||
| Intermediate level of treatment | ||
| ICS (almost half) | ||
| ICS+LABA (one-third) | ||
| LAMA (almost half) |
COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; ICS, inhaled corticosteroids; LABA, long-acting beta agonist; LAMA, long-acting antimuscarinic.;