Table 1.
Clinical and functional characteristics of patients at the beginning of study.
| Characteristics (N=93) | Mean ± SD or Percentage % (N) |
|---|---|
| Age, years | 9 ± 3 |
| Gender | |
| Male | 62.4 (58 |
| Female | 47.6(35) |
| Age of asthma onset, years | 3.5 ± 2.5 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 17.5 ± 1.5 |
| Passive smokers, % | 54.8(51) |
| Atopy | |
| Personal allergic history | 87.1(81) |
| Familiar allergic history | 62.3(58) |
| Asthma severity, % | |
| Moderate asthma | 63.4(59) |
| Severe asthma | 36.6(34) |
| AAE with hospitalization, times/year | 2.4 ± 1.6 |
| Asthma preventive treatment | |
| Never treated with preventive drugs | 8.6(8) |
| Discontinued treatment | 59.1(55) |
| Unregularly treated | 32.3(22) |
| ACT, scores | 8 ± 4 |
| Comorbidity | |
| Allergic rhinitis | 83.8(78) |
| Eczema | 31.2(29) |
| Spirometry | |
| FEV1, % of predicted | 64 ± 18 |
| FVC, % of predicted | 73 ± 12 |
| FEV1/FVC, % of predicted | 67 ± 11 |
| FEF25-75, % of predicted | 48 ± 19 |
| PEFR, % of predicted | 58 ± 15 |
| Reversibility*, % (N) | 76.3(71) |
| Exhaled NO | |
| FENO, ppb | 37 ± 11 |
| CANO, ppb | 5.8 ± 1.4 |
| JawNO, nL/min | 77 ± 22 |
| FnNO, ppb | 1826 ± 379 |
| Total IgE, UI/mL | 1563 ± 576 |
| BEC, % (cells/μL) | 6.3 ± 3.5 (617 ± 258) |
| SPT (+)§ | 89 |
BMI, body mass index; AAE, acute asthma exacerbation; ACT, asthma control test; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FVC, forced vital capacity; FEF25-75, forced expiratory flow at 25-75% of time; PEFR, peak expiratory flow rate; NO, nitric oxide; FENO, fractional concentration of exhaled nitric oxide; CANO, concentration of nitric oxide in the gas phase of the alveolar; JawNO, total flux of NO in the conducting airway compartment; FnNO, fractional concentration of nasally aspirated nitric oxide; ppb: part per billion; BEC, blood eosinophil count; SPT, skin prick test
*defined by increase of FEV1>12% and 200 mL
§positive at least with one allergen on skin prick test.