Table 2.
Demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of control subjects and asthmatic patients.
| Control Subjects | Asthmatic Subjects | p Value b | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | 8 | 36 | |
| Age in years, median (IQR) | 48.5 (14.3) | 55.5 (19.5) | 0.223 |
| Female sex, No. (%) | 7 (88) | 26 (72) | 0.656 |
| BMI (kg/m2), median (IQR) | 26.9 (7.9) | 26.1 (6.2) | 0.899 |
| FEV1 (%) preBD, median (IQR) | 100.5 (11.8) | 74 (42.1) | 0.017 |
| FEV1 (L) preBD, median (IQR) | 2.88 (0.69) | 2.33 (1.01) | 0.013 |
| FEV1 (%) postBD, median (IQR) | ND | 2.26 (1.31) | |
| FEV1 (L) postBD, median (IQR) | ND | 79 (29) | |
| Positive reversibility test, No. (%) | ND | 6 (17) | |
| FeNO (ppb), median (IQR) | 30 (54) | 55 (57) | 0.313 |
| Total serum IgE (kU/l), median (IQR) | ND | 168 (417) | |
| Blood eosinophils (cells/μL), median (IQR) | 180 (65) | 315 (720) | 0.197 |
| Sputum eosinophils (%), median (IQR) | 0.5 (4.8) | 16 (25.5) | 0.016 |
| Active/ex-smokers, No. (%) | 4/0 (50/0) | 3/7 (8.3/19.4) | 0.242 |
| Exacerbations in the past year, No. (%) | 23 (64) | ||
| ICS c use, No. (%) | 32 (89)c | ||
| OCS maintenance use, No. (%) | 14 (39) | ||
| Seasonal allergic rhinitis, No. (%) | 14 (39) | ||
| Perennial allergic rhinitis, No. (%) | 18 (50) | ||
| Biological therapy a, No. (%) | 16 (44) |
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FeNO, exhaled nitric oxide; ICS, inhaled corticosteroids; preBD, pre-bronchodilation; postBD, post-bronchodilation; OCS, oral corticosteroids. a Omalizumab (eight patients) or Mepolizumab (eight patients). b Statistically significant p values are in boldface. c ICS dose was equivalent to the median (IQR) 1000 (1010) mg of budesonide daily. Twenty-nine (81%) patients were taking ICS/LABA.