Features of asthma severity in patients with low (<0.3×109 L−1) versus high (≥0.3×109 L−1) blood eosinophil counts
| Total group | Blood eosinophils <0.3×109 L−1 | Blood eosinophils ≥0.3×109 L−1 | p-value | |
| Patients | 491 | 361 | 130 | |
| Fluticasone-equivalent ICS dose µg median (interquartile range) | 500 (250–750) | 500 (250–500) | 500 (250–1000) | 0.001 |
| OCS maintenance | 12.0% | 8.9% | 20.8% | <0.001 |
| AQLQ score | 5.59 (4.88–6.17) | 5.66 (4.94–6.22) | 5.47 (4.81–5.98) | 0.119 |
| ACQ score | 1.3 (0.6–2.0) | 1.1 (0.6–1.9) | 1.4 (0.8–2.3) | 0.020 |
| Exacerbations in the previous year | <0.001 | |||
| 0 | 61.3% | 66.9% | 45.7% | |
| 1 | 13.1% | 11.1% | 18.6% | |
| 2 | 11.7% | 10.6% | 14.7% | |
| ≥3 | 13.9% | 11.4% | 20.9% | |
| pbFEV1 % pred | 96.6±18.2 | 98.9±17.3 | 90.1±19.2 | <0.001 |
| pbFVC % pred | 108.3±17.2 | 109.2±17.0 | 105.7±17.8 | 0.048 |
| pbFEV1/FVC % pred | 92.1±12.7 | 93.8±12.0 | 87.2±13.5 | <0.001 |
| Fixed obstruction# | 34.1% | 28.8% | 48.8% | <0.001 |
| RV/TLC % pred | 91.3±19.0 | 89.4±18.2 | 96.5±20.4 | <0.001 |
Data are presented as median (interquartile range) or mean±sd, unless otherwise stated. ICS: inhaled corticosteroid; OCS: oral corticosteroid; AQLQ: Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire; ACQ: Asthma Control Questionnaire; pb: post-bronchodilator; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FVC: forced vital capacity; RV: residual volume; TLC: total lung capacity.#: patients with pbFEV1/FVC <70%.