Table 1. Characteristics of the study subjects with asthma.
| Characteristic | Asthma patients (n=89) |
|---|---|
| Male | 47 (52.8) |
| Age, yr | 62.0±14.8 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 24.9±3.7 |
| Non-smoker:ex-smoker | 54 (60.7):35 (39.3) |
| Blood WBC counts, /µL | 4,993.7±3,977.5 |
| Blood eosinophil counts, /µL | 279.3±281.8 |
| Serum total IgE, kU/L | 331.5±546.5 |
| Sputum neutrophil, % | 2.1±2.1 |
| Sputum eosinophil, % | 10.6±8.7 |
| Atopy, % | 44.3 |
| FVC % predicted | 92.9±15.6 |
| FEV1 % predicted | 82.0±17.2 |
| FEV1/FVC, % | 68.9±12.2 |
| PC20, mg/mL | 10.9±8.1 |
Values are presented as number (%) or mean±standard deviation. BMI: body mass index; WBC: white blood cell; IgE: immunoglobulin E; FVC: forced vital capacity; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in one second; PC20: provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in FEV1.