Table I.
Features of the sample. Data represent the mean ± SD or the frequency (%).
| Adult control (n = 20) |
Pediatric control (n = 5) |
Mild-to-Moderate asthma (n = 15) |
Severe asthma (n = 30) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (in years) | 39 ± 10 | 11 ± 4a | 10 ± 4a | 10 ± 4a |
| Male gender | 8 (40) | 3 (60) | 10 (67) | 15 (50) |
| Caucasian | 8 (40) | 4 (80) | 14 (93)a | 9 (30)b,c |
| African-American | 11 (55) | 1 (20) | 1 (7)a | 20 (67)b,c |
| ICS dose (µg fluticasone/day) | 0 | 0 | 262 ± 189a,b | 917 ± 236a,b,c |
| Asthma medications | ||||
| Budesonide | 0 | 0 | 3 (20) | 7 (23) |
| Fluticasone | 0 | 0 | 1 (7) | 1 (3) |
| Fluticasone/salmeterol | 0 | 0 | 8 (53)a,b | 22 (73)a,b,c |
| Montelukast | 0 | 0 | 10 (67)a,b | 28 (93)a,b,c |
| Prednisone | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 (37)a,b,c |
| Emergency room visit (previous year) | 0 | 0 | 3 (20) | 28 (93)a,b,c |
| Hospitalization (previous year) | 0 | 0 | 1 (7) | 26 (87)a,b,c |
| Intensive Care Unit admission (ever) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 (47)a,b,c |
| Intubation (ever) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 (20)a,b,c |
| FVC (% predicted) | 98 ± 16 | 102 ± 18 | 102 ± 15 | 87 ± 19a,b,c |
| FEV1 (% predicted) | 103 ± 16 | 101 ± 15 | 100 ± 15 | 73 ± 20a,b,c |
| FEV1 FVC | 0.86 ± 0.07 | 0.89 ± 0.03 | 0.87 ± 0.06 | 0.74 ± 0.12a,b,c |
| FEF25–75 (% predicted) | 121 ± 32 | 92 ± 16a | 94 ± 23a | 51 ± 25a,b,c |
| FEV1 bronchodilator reversibility (%)1 | 3 ± 6 | 6 ± 5 | 9 ± 11 | 23 ± 17 |
| FENO (offline, ppb) | 5 ± 3 | 7 ± 4 | 11 ± 12a | 13 ± 10a,b |
| Elevated baseline FENO (> 10 ppb) | 4 (20) | 2 (40) | 3 (20) | 20 (67)a,b,c |
| Reported allergies | Not assessed | 2 (40) | 9 (60) | 25 (83) |
| Reported atopic dermatitis | Not assessed | 0 | 5 (33) | 21 (70) |
| Number of skin prick responses | Not assessed | 0 | 2 ± 2 | 5 ±3b,c |
| Serum IgE (kU/L) | 100 ± 194 | 80 ± 64 | 94 ± 139 | 487 ± 730a,b,c |
1
Calculated by: [(FEV1; post-bronchodilator – FEV1 pre-bronchodilator)/predicted FEV1]*100
a
p < 0.05 vs. adult control
b
p < 0.05 vs. pediatric control
c
p < 0.05 vs. mild-to-moderate asthma