TABLE 3.
Clinical characteristics of persistent frequent exacerbators (PFEs) and persistent infrequent exacerbators (PIEs)
| Persistent IE | Persistent FE | p Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| N | 73 | 126 | |
| Sex: female a | 27/73 (36.99) | 81/126 (64.29) | p < 0.001 |
| Age (year) b | 53.7 (12.29) [73] | 51.85 (12.55) [126] | 0.374 |
| BMI (kg/m2) b | 28.44 (4.56) [73] | 30.05 (6.72) [126] | 0.206 |
| Age at diagnosis(yr) b | 29.03 (20.13) [70] | 22.74 (17.19) [125] | 0.042 |
| Smoking status a | |||
| Current smoker | 15/73 (20.55) | 12/126 (9.52) | 0.048 |
| Ex‐smoker | 16/73 (21.92) | 30/126 (23.81) | 0.896 |
| Never smoked | 42/73 (57.53) | 84/126 (66.67) | 0.256 |
| Atopy test positive a | 58/73 (79.45) | 83/125 (65.87) | 0.110 |
| Allergic rhinitis diagnosed a | 33/66 (50) | 60/113 (53.1) | 0.806 |
| Diabetes diagnosed a | 5/67 (7.46) | 16/118 (13.56) | 0.310 |
| Eczema diagnosed a | 13/68 (19.12) | 49/116 (42.24) | 0.002 |
| Non‐allergic rhinitis diagnosed a | 10/67 (14.93) | 16/114 (14.04) | 1.000 |
| Sinusitis diagnosed a | 19/68 (27.94) | 49/117 (41.88) | 0.082 |
| Nasal Polyps diagnosed a | 29/69 (42.03) | 40/118 (33.9) | 0.340 |
| Osteoporosis diagnosed a | 13/67 (19.4) | 40/116 (34.48) | 0.046 |
| GORD diagnosed a | 29/69 (42.03) | 61/115 (53.04) | 0.195 |
| Regular xanthine use a | 11/73 (15.07) | 36/125 (28.8) | 0.044 |
| Regular leukotriene modifier use a | 23/73 (31.51) | 54/125 (43.2) | 0.140 |
| Regular use of LAMA a | 21/73 (28.77) | 34/125 (27.2) | 0.942 |
| Regular SABA Use a | 39/73 (53.42) | 105/126 (83.33) | p < 0.001 |
| Regular omalizumab use a | 6/73 (8.22) | 12/126 (9.52) | 0.958 |
| Regular OCS use a | 24/73 (32.88) | 67/126 (53.17) | 0.009 |
| FEV1 (% predicted)b | 65.61 (19.02) [73] | 66.02 (21.3) [124] | 0.945 |
| FVC (% predicted) b | 87.81 (18.2) [73] | 86.32 (19.94) [124] | 0.532 |
| Residual volume (L)b | 2.78 (0.76) [56] | 2.87 (1.25) [84] | 0.677 |
| sGaw (s−1 kPa−1) b | 0.95 (0.61) [53] | 0.82 (0.75) [84] | 0.045 |
| TLC (L)b | 5.86 (0.51) [73] | 5.84 (0.45) [125] | 0.871 |
| IgE (IU/ml) c | 136 (90‐440) [73] | 108.5 (42‐264) [122] | 0.033 |
| FeNO (ppb) c | 31 (19‐62) [70] | 22.16 (14‐39) [116] | 0.035 |
| Blood eosinophils (%) c | 3.17 (2‐6) [72] | 2.58 (1‐5) [121] | 0.021 |
| Blood neutrophils (%) c | 60.38 (55‐67) [72] | 62 (56‐71) [121] | 0.208 |
| Sputum eosinophils (%) c | 4.46 (1‐12) [34] | 2.7 (0‐9) [55] | 0.153 |
| Sputum neutrophils (%) c | 51.66 (43‐64) [34] | 55.1 (35‐75) [55] | 0.698 |
| Mean ACQ5 b | 1.8 (1.0) [70] | 2.6 (1.22) [124] | p < 0.001 |
| Mean AQLQ b | 4.87 (1.27) [72] | 4.19 (1.11) [125] | p < 0.001 |
| Total HADS b | 11.51 (7.6) [72] | 13.73 (8.24) [124] | 0.065 |
| Total SNOT20 b | 29.55 (17.02) [71] | 33.96 (18.48) [124] | 0.103 |
Abbreviations: ACQ5, Asthma Control Questionnaire (five questions); AQLQ, Asthma quality of life questionnaire; BMI, body metabolic index; ESS, Epworth Sleepiness Scale; FeNO, fractional level of nitric oxide in exhaled breath; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC, forced vital capacity; GORD, gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease; HADS, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; IgE, immunoglobulin E; LAMA, long‐acting muscarinic antagonist; OCS, oral corticosteroid; ppb. parts per billion; SABA, short‐acting β‐agonist; sGaw, specific airway conductance; SNOT20, sinonasal outcome test (20 questions); TLC, total lung capacity.
Number (percentage).
Mean (SD).
Median (Interquartile range).