Fig. 5

Sputum levels of HBP (a) and elastase (b) depending on ∆FEV₁. Sputum samples with more than 10% decline in the patient’s ∆FEV₁ were compared to samples with less than 10% decline in lung function. ∆FEV₁ was calculated using the mean of the patient’s two best FEV₁%predicted values the previous year as baseline, and comparing to the patient’s FEV₁%predicted at the time of sampling, expressed in %. ** = p < 0.005. *** = p < 0.001