Table 1. Clinical characteristics.
| Characteristic | High FeNO (n = 48) | Normal FeNO (n = 68) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex, male:female | 33:15 | 46:22 | 0.900 | |
| Age (yr) | 10.1 ± 0.3 | 9.0 ± 0.2 | 0.003* | |
| Age at asthma onset (yr) | 4.2 ± 2.9 | 3.5 ± 2.6 | 0.171 | |
| Exacerbation (times/previous year) | 0.4 ± 0.1 | 0.4 ± 0.1 | 0.940 | |
| Allergy rhinitis | 44 (91.7) | 47 (69.1) | 0.004* | |
| FeNO | 40.9 ± 1.6 | 10.7 ± 1.3 | <0.001* | |
| Controller | ||||
| ICS | 24 (50) | 39 (57.4) | 0.434 | |
| LTRA | 32 (66.7) | 56 (82.4) | 0.053 | |
| LABA | 2 (4.2) | 6 (8.3) | 0.330 | |
| Biologic medications | 3 (6.3) | 6 (8.8) | 0.610 | |
| Laboratory data | ||||
| WBC (n = 112) | 7,700 ± 450 | 7,900 ± 370 | 0.660 | |
| Eosino% (n = 112) | 7.1 ± 0.7 | 5.2 ± 0.6 | 0.034* | |
| Total serum IgE (n = 106) | 1,230 ± 270 | 1,150 ± 230 | 0.809 | |
| Sensitized to HDM (n = 109) | 45 (100) | 51 (80) | 0.001* | |
| Spirometry at 0 m (n = 82) | ||||
| %FEV1 | 83.5 ± 1.1 | 86.1 ± 1.1 | 0.093 | |
| %V50 | 77.9 ± 3.5 | 81.5 ± 3.6 | 0.475 | |
| Spirometry evaluated periods from 1st FeNO exam (mo), number of examined children | ||||
| 0 m | 1.2 ± 0.3 (n = 40) | 1.3 ± 0.3 (n = 42) | 0.845 | |
| 10 m | 11.6 ± 0.3 (n = 39) | 12.2 ± 0.3 (n = 54) | 0.119 | |
| 20 m | 20.3 ± 0.4 (n = 39) | 20.3 ± 0.4 (n = 53) | 0.927 | |
| 30 m | 28.0 ± 0.5 (n = 29) | 27.7 ± 0.5 (n = 35) | 0.717 | |
| Follow-up periods (mo) | 25.8 ± 0.7 | 24.7 ± 0.6 | 0.243 | |
| Total exacerbation within follow-up period (times) | 0.7 ± 0.3 | 1.0 ± 0.2 | 0.533 | |
Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation or number (%).
FeNO, fractional exhaled nitric oxide; ICS, inhaled corticosteroid; LTRA, leukotriene receptor antagonists; LABA, long-acting beta-agonist; WBC, white blood cell; HDM, house dust mite; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; V50, maximum flow at 50% of forced vital capacity.
*p < 0.05.