Table III.
Clinical characteristics of patients with asthma
| Characteristic | Total patients with asthma (n = 23) | No exacerbation (n = 17) | Exacerbation (n = 6) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age at onset (y) | |||
| <18 | 6 (26.1) | 4 (23.5) | 2 (33.3) |
| 18-50 | 13 (56.5) | 10 (58.8) | 3 (50.0) |
| >50 | 4 (17.4) | 3 (17.6) | 1 (16.7) |
| Spirometry∗ | |||
| FEV1 (% predicted) | 85.5 (73.3-88.2) | 85.5 (82.5-86.8) | 78.0 (60.8-88.9) |
| FEV1/FVC (%) | 70 (64.3-88.2) | 77.1 (68.0-86.1) | 67.5 (60.3-73.6) |
| Allergy (based on clinical history)† | 15 (68.2) | 11 (68.8) | 4 (66.7) |
| Family atopy† | 12 (54.5) | 8 (50.0) | 4 (66.7) |
| Positive skin prick test result‡ | 5 of 8 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 5 |
| Symptoms to† | |||
| Birch pollen | 6 (27.3) | 5 (31.3) | 1 (16.7) |
| Grass pollen | 6 (27.3) | 4 (25.0) | 1 (16.7) |
| Pets (cat or dog) | 4 (18.2) | 2 (12.5) | 2 (33.3) |
| House dust | 11 (50.0) | 8 (50.0) | 3 (50.0) |
| Desensitization† | 3 (13.6) | 3 (18.8) | 0 (0.0) |
| Rhinoconjunctivitis exacerbated (February 2020)† | 2 (9.1) | 2 (12.5) | 0 (0.0) |
| Severity of asthma | |||
| Exacerbations during the last 12 mo | 0.5 (0.0-1.0) | 0 (0.0-1.0) | 1 (0.3-1.0) |
| Almost 1 hospitalization in intensive care unit in life | 1 (4.3) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (16.7) |
| Daily dose of inhaled corticosteroids during the last month | 0 (0.0-820.0) | 0 (0.0-600.0) | 600 (50.0-1210.0) |
| GINA step 1 | 12 (52.2) | 10 (58.8) | 2 (33.3) |
| GINA step 2 | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| GINA step 3 | 2 (8.7) | 1 (5.9) | 1 (16.7) |
| GINA step 4 | 5 (21.7) | 4 (23.5) | 1 (16.7) |
| GINA step 5 | 4 (17.4) | 2 (11.8) | 2 (33.3) |
| Comorbidity | |||
| Gastroesophageal reflux | 12 (52.2) | 8 (47.1) | 4 (66.7) |
| Hyperventilation syndrome | 1 (4.4) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.2) |
| Chronic rhinosinusitis with polyposis | 1 (4.4) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (16.7) |
| Anti-inflammatory drug hypersensitivity | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Paradoxical vocal cord motion disorder | 3 (13.0) | 2 (11.8) | 1 (16.7) |
| Obesity | 9 (39.1) | 6 (35.3) | 3 (50.0) |
| Asthma control† | |||
| Well controlled | 14 (63.6) | 9 (56.3) | 5 (83.3) |
| Partly controlled | 6 (27.3) | 6 (37.5) | 0 (0.0) |
| Uncontrolled | 2 (9.1) | 1 (6.25) | 1 (16.7) |
FVC, Forced vital capacity.
Data are given as n (%) or median (interquartile range). Birch pollen symptoms: rhinitis, conjunctivitis, or asthma on March or April. Grass pollen symptoms: symptoms in May and June. House dust: symptoms in contact with domestic dust.
∗
Spirometry data were obtained from the patient's doctors.
†
n = 22; for 1 patient we did not obtain any information because he was immediately transferred to the intensive care unit. For others, medical information was obtained from patients and medical report from their general practitioner and specialists.
‡
Positive threshold for skin test: mean diameter of the wheal ≥3 mm compared with negative control (n = 8).