Table 1.
Characteristics of patients and healthy controls
| Variable | Asthma | Normal | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number | 89 | 19 | |
| Age (years) | 52.24 ± 13.32 | 44.58 ± 16.30 | 0.025 |
| Sex, male (%) | 37(41.6) | 9 (47.4) | 0.617 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 23.86 ± 3.49 | 23.22 ± 3.28 | 0.589 |
| Ex-smoker, n (%) | 23 (25.8) | 7 (36.84) | 0.667 |
| Smoking index | 0 (0,15) | 0 (0,5.25) | 0.796 |
| Post-FEV1 (L) | 2.36 ± 1.00 | 3.13 ± 0.91 | 0.009 |
| Post-FVC (L) | 3.53 ± 1.20 | 3.65 ± 0.79 | 0.677 |
| FeNO (ppd) | 42.20 (27.80, 99.65) | 22.5 (16.5, 24.00) | 0.004 |
| Sputum TCC (106/mL) | 3.00 (1.80, 5.40) | 2.43 (1.62, 3.24) | 0.180 |
| Sputum NEU (104/mL) | 10 (1, 91) | 0 (0, 6) | < 0.001 |
| Sputum EOS (104/mL) | 7 (0, 58) | 0 (0, 2) | < 0.001 |
| Sputum MA (106/mL) | 1.34 (0.27, 3.52) | 2.37 (1.56, 3.12) | 0.100 |
| Sputum LY (104/mL) | 2.51 (0, 16.46) | 5.49 (1.08, 12.96) | 0.255 |
Data are expressed as mean ± SD or median (IQR). Data were analyzed using a Student’s t-test or a Mann-Whitney U test and were adjusted for age. BMI Body mass index, FEV1 Forced expiratory volume in 1 s, FVC Forced vital capacity, FeNO Fractional exhaled nitric oxide, TCC Total cell count, NEU Neutrophils, EOS Eosinophils, MA Macrophages, LY: Lymphocyte