Comparison between asthmatic and nonasthmatic subject demographic, functional and inflammatory characteristics in the training cohort (n=166)
| Asthmatic subjects (n=105) | Nonasthmatic subjects (n=61) | |
| Age (years) | 52±16 | 48±17 |
| Male | 40 (42) | 47 (29) |
| BMI (kg·m−2) | 27±4.3 | 27±5.5 |
| Smoking status | ||
| Nonsmoker | 48 (51) | 59 (36) |
| Ex-smoker | 28 (29) | 21 (13) |
| Current smoker | 24 (25) | 20 (12) |
| Atopy | 48 (50) | 44 (28) |
| FEV1 (% pred) | 86±18 | 98±16**** |
| FEV1 <80% pred | 27 (28) | 11 (7) |
| FEV1/FVC (%) | 76±9 | 82±6.7**** |
| FEV1/FVC <75% | 43 (46) | 16 (10) |
| FENO (ppb) | 22 (15–37) | 19 (13–27.5)* |
| FENO >25 ppb | 40 (42) | 36 (22) |
| Sputum eosinophils (%)# | 1 (0–5) | 0.8 (0.05–2.65) |
| Blood eosinophils (%) | 2.7 (1.45–4.5) | 2.1 (1.3–3.2) |
| Blood eosinophils (μL−1) | 190 (110–320) | 140 (98–260) |
| Blood eosinophils >300 μL−1 | 26 (27) | 18 (11) |
| Total serum IgE (kU·L−1) | 80 (27.5–272) | 42 (17–148) |
| Wheezing intensity score | 1.48±1.1 | 0.84±1.1*** |
| Dyspnoea intensity score | 2.09±1.1 | 1.87±1.1 |
| Cough intensity score | 1.63±1 | 1.52±1.1 |
| Airway secretion intensity score | 1.28±1 | 1.08±1.1 |
| Chest tightness intensity score | 1.57±1.2 | 1.52±1 |
Data are presented as % (n), mean±sd or median (interquartile range). BMI: body mass index; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FVC: forced vital capacity; FENO: exhaled nitric oxide fraction. #: n=57 asthmatic subjects and n=38 nonasthmatic subjects. *: p<0.05; ***: p<0.001; ****: p<0.0001.