Table 2.
Baseline characteristics of the 89 participants analysed, The Regular Exercise and Asthma Control Trial [REACT].
| Total | Intervention group | Reference group | Difference between the groups |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analysed | Analysed | ||
| N = 44 | N = 45 | Test statistic, P-value | |
| Age, Mean (SD) | 39.7 (14.06) | 32.9 (10.72) | t value = −2.56, 0.012 |
| Age group | |||
| 18–29 | 12 (27.3) | 23 (51.1) |
Chi-square (d.f. = 2) = 7.5521 0.023 |
| 30–49 | 20 (45.5) | 18 (40.0) | |
| 50+ | 12 (27.3) | 4 (8.9) | |
| Gender | |||
| Men | 8 (18.2) | 11 (24.4) |
Chi-square (d.f. = 1) = 0.5197 0.471 |
| Women | 36 (81.8) | 34 (75.6) | |
| Smoking | |||
| Never | 34 (77.3) | 32 (73.8) |
Chi-square (d.f. = 2) = 0.8677 0.648 |
| Ex | 4 (9.1) | 7 (15.6) | |
| Current | 6 (13.6) | 6 (13.3) | |
| BMI, Mean (SD) | 24.97 (3.81) | 24.95 (4.54) | t value = −0.02, 0.983 |
| −18 | 1 (2.3) | 0 (0.0) |
Chi-square (d.f. = 3) = 1.1875 0.756 |
| 18–25 | 26 (59.1) | 28 (62.2) | |
| 25–30 | 10 (22.7) | 11 (24.4) | |
| 30− | 7 (15.9) | 6 (13.3) | |
| 6-min step test, Mean, SD | 200.3 (40.19) | 202.5 (40.12) | t value = 0.25, 0.801 |
| Regular exercise h per week, Mean, SD | 3.99 (3.16) | 3.33 (3.69) | t value = −0.91, 0.367 |
| ACT, Median, 25,75% | 21 [18, 22] | 22 [19, 23] | Wilcoxon S = 1785.0, 0.107 |
| 20–25 | 29 (65.9) | 33 (73.3) |
Chi-square (d.f. = 1) = 0.394 0.5302 |
| 5–19 | 15 (34.1) | 12 (26.7) | |
| Shortness of breath weekly | 26 (59.1) | 22 (48.9) |
Chi-square (d.f. = 1) = 0.9320 0.334 |
| Shortness of breath less than weekly | 18 (40.9) | 23 (51.1) | |
| Wheezing weekly | 17 (39.5) | 10 (22.2) |
Chi-square (d.f. = 1) = 3.0988 0.078 |
| Wheezing less than weekly | 26 (60.5) | 35 (77.8) | |
| Phlegm weekly | 25 (58.1) | 13 (28.9) |
Chi-square (d.f. = 1) = 7.6680 0.006 |
| Phlegm less than weekly | 18 (41.9) | 32 (71.1) | |
| Coughing weekly | 16 (37.2) | 15 (33.3) |
Chi-square (d.f. = 1) = 0.1448 0.704 |
| Coughing less than weekly | 27 (62.8) | 30 (66.7) | |
| PEF % predicted | 104.92 (16.94) | 108.53 (17.14) | F-test value = 1.00, 0.321 |
| FEV1% predicted | 92.27 (9.93) | 94.53 (12.59) | F-test value = 0.88, 0.351 |
| FVC % predicted | 99.50 (8.13) | 101.84 (12.77) | F-test value = 1.06, 0.306 |
| FEV1/FVC % predicted | 92.97 (9.21) | 93.03 (7.31) | F-test value = 0.00, 0.969 |
| Short-acting bronchodilator | |||
| Regularly | 4 (9.1) | 1 (2.2) | |
| If needed | 35 (79.6) | 36 (80.0) | Chi-square (d.f. = 2) = 2.50, |
| Not at all | 5 (11.4) | 8 (17.8) | 0.287 |
| Inhaled steroid | |||
| Regularly | 24 (54.5) | 26 (57.8) | |
| If needed | 5 (11.4) | 5 (11.1) | |
| Not at all | 14 (31.8) | 14 (31.1) | Chi-square (d.f. = 2) = 0.03, |
| Missing | 1 (2.3) | 0 (0.0) | 0.983 |
| Oral steroids | |||
| Regularly | 0 | 0 (0.0) | |
| If needed | 6 (13.6) | 12 (26.7) | Chi-square (d.f. = 1) = 2.18, |
| Not at all | 37 (84.1) | 33 (73.3) | 0.139 |
| Missing | 1 (2.3) | 0 (0.0) | |