Baseline characteristics of groups
| Characteristic | CF-group | Non-CF group | p-value |
| Children n | 38 | 38 | |
| Age years | 4.1 (1.8–6.0) | 3.7 (1.8–6.7) | 0.87 |
| Female/male n | 15/23 | 13/25 | 0.81 |
| Detectable neutrophil elastase activity n/total N (%) | 23/38 (61) | 17/38 (45) | 0.25 |
| Infection n/total N (%) | 30/38 (79) | 25/38 (66) | 0.30 |
| Neutrophils in BAL % | 22 (11–52) | 23 (11–39) | 0.81 |
| Subjects with elevated BAL neutrophil %- n/total N (%) | 29/38 (76%) | 29/38 (76%) |
Data are presented as median (interquartile range), unless otherwise stated. BAL=bronchoalveolar lavage. An elavated percentage of neutrophils in BAL is defined as >10%.