Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the training dataset.
| Total Training Dataset | Exacerbation | No Exacerbation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | 252 | 41 | 211 |
| Age (years), mean (SD) | 48.3 (18.1) | 51.3 (16.1) | 47.7 (18.5) |
| Gender, male (n, %), | 89 (35.3) | 9 (22.0) | 80 (38.0) |
| BMI (kg/m2), mean (SD) | 27.4 (6.5) | 26.7 (5.0) | 27.5 (6.8) |
| Smoking (never/ex/current), n | 173/65/13 | 26/15/0 | 147/50/13 |
| Pack-years, median (IQR) | 5.0 (2.0–8.0) | 4.8 (2.0–8.8) | 5.0 (2.0–8.0) |
| Exacerbations *, n (%) | 41 (16.3) | 41 (100) | 0 (0) |
| Previous AB use #, n (%) | 23 (9.1) | 17 (41.5) | 6 (2.8) |
| FEV1 as % of predicted, mean (SD) | 88.4 (22.0) | 88.4 (25.0) | 87.2 (20.9) |
| Post-bronchodilator FEV1 as % of predicted, mean (SD) | 90.1 (20.0) | 88.0 (19.7) | 92.7 (20.0) |
| FEV1/FVC as % of predicted, mean (SD) | 86.7 (15.4) | 87.8 (14.1) | 86.7 (15.6) |
| Post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC as % of predicted, mean (SD) | 89.1 (14.6) | 86.9 (14.5) | 90.9 (14.4) |
| Blood eosinophils (cells·µL−1), median (IQR) | 0.21 (0.09–0.42) | 0.24 (0.11–0.47) | 0.21 (0.09–0.42) |
| Blood neutrophils (cells·µL−1), median (IQR) | 4.8 (3.5–6.0) | 5.5 (4.3–7.5) | 4.5 (3.4–6.2) |
| FeNO (ppb), median (IQR) | 25.5 (15.0–41.0) | 28.0 (17.5–39.5) | 22.0 (13.0–47.5) |
| ACQ score, mean (SD) | 1.8 (1.4) | 1.8 (1.4) | 1.7 (1.4) |
| ACQ-score > 1.5 (n, %) | 130 (51.6) | 23 (56.1) | 98 (46.4) |
| Allergy †, yes, n (%) | 183 (72.6) | 29 (70.1) | 151 (71.6) |
| Use of ICS, yes, n (%) | 213 (84.5) | 37 (90.2) | 176 (70.1) |
* Defined as OCS for acute worsening of respiratory symptoms < 3 months prior measurement. # Defined as antibiotics for acute worsening of respiratory symptoms < 3 months prior measurement. † Self-reported. FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 s, FVC: forced vital capacity, FeNO: fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, AB: antibiotics, ACQ: asthma control questionnaire and ICS: inhaled corticosteroids.