Table 1. Inclusion and exclusion criteria for participants.

Inclusion criteria

Asthma diagnosed according to GINA (1)

Aged 12–80 years

Exclusion criteria

Patients with severe cardiac, hepatic, renal, or other organ dysfunction

Patients with other lung diseases (bronchiolitis obliterans, tracheobronchial foreign body, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, bronchiectasis, pulmonary embolism, tuberculosis, etc.)

Pregnant or lactating women

History of taking regular corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive agents for other diseases

Patients who cannot provide prior informed consent or delayed informed consent

GINA, Global Initiative for Asthma.