TABLE 1.
Clinical features of the 5 sputum omics‐associated clusters (OACs).
| OAC 1 | OAC2 | OAC3 | OAC4 | OAC 5 | Group comparison (p values) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subjects | 20 | 12 | 18 | 12 | 10 | 1 vs. 2 | 1 vs. 3 | 1 vs. 4 | 1 vs. 5 | 2 vs. 3 | 2 vs. 4 | 2 vs. 5 | 3 vs. 4 | 3 vs. 5 | 4 vs. 5 |
| Age (years) | 47 (31.8–53.5) | 54.5 (41.2–58.8) | 52.5 (46.2–58) | 54 (49.5–63.5) | 55 (46.2–63) | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS |
| Age of onset (years) | 16 (6–40) | 20.5 (14.8–44.5) | 37.5 (7.5–47.5) | 27 (24.5–46) | 18 (6.2–37.8) | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS |
| Female | 11 (55%) | 9 (75%) | 8 (44%) | 8 (67%) | 4 (40%) | ** | NS | NS | NS | ** | NS | ** | ** | NS | ** |
| BMI | 25.1 (23–32.1) | 25.5 (23.6–31.3) | 25.8 (24.4–29.6) | 31.2 (27.8–32.8) | 27.5 (23.2–31.3) | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS |
| Smoker (current) | 2 (10%) | 0 (0%) | 2 (11.8%) | 2 (16.7%) | 0 (0%) | NS | NS | ** | NS | NS | ** | NS | ** | NS | ** |
| Nasal polyps (yes) | 3 (15%) | 5 (50%) | 8 (47%) | 3 (25%) | 3 (30%) | ** | ** | NS | * | NS | ** | * | ** | * | NS |
| Allergic rhinitis | 9 (47%) | 7 (70%) | 5 (36%) | 1 (9%) | 7 (88%) | ** | NS | *** | *** | *** | *** | ** | *** | *** | *** |
| Eczema | 6 (32%) | 6 (55%) | 4 (24%) | 3 (25%) | 2 (22%) | ** | NS | NS | NS | ** | ** | ** | NS | NS | NS |
| Severe asthma | 10 (50%) | 11 (92%) | 18 (100%) | 12 (100%) | 6 (60%) | *** | *** | *** | NS | * | ** | *** | NS | *** | *** |
| Oral corticosteroid use | 2 (10%) | 5 (42%) | 10 (56%) | 4 (36%) | 1 (10%) | *** | *** | ** | NS | NS | NS | *** | ** | *** | *** |
| Atopy (+) | 16 (80%) | 9 (75%) | 14 (78%) | 6 (60%) | 8 (80%) | NS | NS | * | NS | NS | NS | NS | * | NS | * |
| Exacerbations last year | 1 (0–2.2) | 2 (0–2.2) | 2 (0–3.8) | 2 (0–2.5) | 1 (0–2.8) | ** | ** | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS |
| FEV1 (% pred) | 86.9 (73–94.4) | 57.5 (39.3–76.4) | 58.1 (48.7–78.4) | 58.3 (44.2–70) | 69.6 (60.2–85.5) | * | ** | *** | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS |
| Total IgE (IU/mL) | 95.7 (54.8–168.8) | 159 (44.4–367.2) | 203 (68.8–370.5) | 52 (33–97.5) | 86 (34–551) | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS |
| Blood leukocytes | 6 (5.2–7.3) | 9.5 (7.9–10.9) | 8.7 (6.1–10.5) | 7.7 (6.3–9.8) | 6.9 (6.2–8.3) | * | * | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS |
| Blood eosinophils | 0.2 (0.1–0.2) | 0.3 (0.25–0.4) | 0.4 (0.12–0.5) | 0.2 (0.18–0.3) | 0.3 (0.19–0.5) | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS |
| Blood neutrophils | 3.3 (2.9–4.5) | 6.2 (4.6–7.2) | 4.6 (3.3–7) | 4.4 (3.8–6.6) | 4.1 (3.9–4.5) | ** | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS |
| Sputum eosinophils (%) | 0.5 (0–1.7) | 2 (0.19–9.9) | 35.5 (11.6–51.4) | 4.1 (0.14–7.6) | 0.9 (0.18–11.3) | NS | *** | NS | NS | * | NS | NS | * | NS | NS |
| Sputum neutrophils (%) | 37.5 (29.6–50.7) | 91.3 (83.4–93.8) | 33.3 (25–60.3) | 65.4 (54.1–73.2) | 39.8 (20.3–61.9) | **** | NS | ** | NS | *** | ** | ** | * | NS | NS |
| Sputum macrophages (%) | 58.9 (46.8–65.1) | 4.4 (3.4–8) | 20.5 (14.8–26) | 27.5 (21.4–33.9) | 38.3 (29.9–65.9) | **** | *** | *** | NS | *** | *** | *** | NS | * | NS |
| FeNO (ppb) | 28 (20–49.8) | 26 (16.2–45) | 41.5 (22.4–68) | 31 (10–45.5) | 22 (18–29) | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS |
| Serum periostin (ng/mL) | 41.8 (32.7–53.4) | 49.9 (46.8–61.1) | 52.8 (47.4–66.1) | 43.3 (36.6–48.86) | 44 (38.7–47.7) | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS |
| CRP (mg/L) | 0.8 (0.3–2) | 3.9 (2.2–14.2) | 1.1 (0.8–2.4) | 2.5 (1–4.5) | 1 (0.6–3.1) | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS | NS |
| History pneumonia (+) | 2 (10%) | 1 (8%) | 2 (11%) | 1 (10%) | 3 (30%) | NS | NS | NS | ** | NS | NS | ** | NS | ** | ** |
Note: Variables are described as median (interquartile range 25%−75%) or n (%). p Value: χ2 test was used for categorical variables. Normality of numerical variables was examined by the Shapiro–Wilk test. Kruskal–Wallis test was used for nonnormally distributed numerical variables and pairwise Student's t‐test for normally distributed numerical variables. Statistical significance: *p < .05; **p < .01; ***p < .001; ****p < .0001; otherwise nonsignificant (p > .05).
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; CRP, C‐reactive protein; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FeNO, level of nitric oxide in exhaled breath; ns, not significant; ppb, parts per billion.