Table 1. Baseline characteristics of the EA and NEA groups.
| Characteristics | EA (≥ 65 yr) (n = 503) | NEA (< 65 yr) (n = 564) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (yr) | 78.24 ± 7.18 | 36.89 ± 10.28 | < 0.001 |
| Sex (male) | 55.9 | 38.2 | < 0.001 |
| Symptom duration (yr) | 8.56 ± 5.21 | 5.94 ± 5.11 | < 0.001 |
| Smoking status (yes) | 30.4 | 14.2 | < 0.001 |
| Baseline FEV1 (L) | 1.52 ± 0.51 | 2.57 ± 0.78 | < 0.001 |
| Baseline FEV1 (% predicted) | 79.65 ± 16.41 | 67.12 ± 19.23 | < 0.001 |
| Baseline FVC (L) | 2.21 ± 0.69 | 3.23 ± 0.91 | < 0.001 |
| Baseline FVC (% predicted) | 82.33 ± 19.35 | 82.72 ± 16.47 | 0.018 |
| Baseline FEV1/FVC ratio | 68.76 ± 10.80 | 79.17 ± 10.17 | < 0.001 |
| Fixed airway obstruction | 31.8 | 17.2 | < 0.001 |
| Eosinophil count (number/L) | 284.2 ± 454.7 | 396.0 ± 377.1 | 0.029 |
| Atopy (yes) | 20.1 | 62.6 | < 0.001 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 24.75 ± 1.65 | 23.45 ± 3.40 | < 0.001 |
| Chronic sinusitis (yes) | 41.2 | 40.8 | NS |
| Exacerbations/year | 31.0 | 33.2 | NS |
Data are shown as mean±standard deviation or number (%).
EA, elderly asthma; NEA, non-elderly asthma; BMI, body mass index; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC, forced vital capacity; NS, not significant.