Demographics and clinical characteristics of the total COPD cohort (at observation period start) further split by the MRC dyspnoea grade (first recorded from study start).

Percentages are based on row total. MRC scoring 1–5 equals to mMRC grades 0–4 with MRC 1 equals to mMRC 0.a Other smoker: no record about smoking history or record of passive smoking.Data on BMI were missing for 865 (1.7%) patients.Data on GOLD grade were missing for 1002 (2%) patients.Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; GOLD, global initiative for obstructive lung disease; GP, general practitioner; MRC, Medical Research Council; SD, standard deviation.