Table 3.

Relationship Between Cytokines and Pulmonary Function

	IL-18		IFN-γ		IL-4		IL-5		IL-13		IL-25
	R	P	R	P	R	P	R	P	R	P	R	P
IgE	0.202	0.020	−0.176	0.044	0.189	0.030	0.211	0.015	0.195	0.025	0.167	0.056
FEV1	−0.256	0.003	0.237	0.006	−0.261	0.002	−0.282	0.001	−0.251	0.004	−0.232	0.007
FVC	−0.196	0.025	0.180	0.039	−0.201	0.021	−0.222	0.010	−0.196	0.024	−0.175	0.045
FEV1/ FVC	−0.269	0.002	0.262	0.002	−0.277	0.001	−0.262	0.002	−0.272	0.002	−0.253	0.003
FeNO	0.339	0.001	−0.334	0.001	0.336	0.001	0.335	0.001	0.308	0.003	0.340	0.001

Notes: The correlation analysis between two variables was performed using Spearman correlation analysis, and P < 0.05 was considered as correlation between the two variables. The correlation coefficient R represents the strength of the correlation and takes values in the range of [−1, +1], the closer to −1 or +1, the stronger the correlation. A negative number represents a negative correlation, a positive number represents a positive correlation, and 0 means no correlation exists.

Abbreviations: IgE, immunoglobulin E; FVC, forced vital capacity; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1s; FeNO, fractional exhaled nitric oxide; ppb, parts per billion.