Variable | Baseline All (n = 102) | Baseline for subjects not assessed at exacerbation (n = 65) | Baseline for subjects assessed at exacerbation (n = 37) | P-value∥ | Change between Stable and Exacerbation (n = 37) | P-value¶ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Male (n [%]) | 49 (48) | 33 (51) | 16 (43) | 0.47 | ||
Age (year) | 53 (1) | 52 (2) | 55 (2) | 0.21 | ||
BMI (kg/m2) | 30 (1) | 29 (1) | 32 (1) | 0.034 | ||
Current or Ex-smokers (n [%]) | 39 (38) | 31 (48) | 8 (22) | 0.009 | ||
Pack yearsb,c | 10 (2 to 14) | 10 (2 to 14) | 9 (2 to 16) | 0.73 | ||
Exacerbations (OCS courses in last year) b | 3 (2 to 4) | 2.5 (2 to 3) | 3 (2 to 5) | 0.21 | ||
GINA Classification III/IV/V (n) | 5/45/52 | 3/37/25 | 2/8/27 | 0.002 | ||
Daily ICS dose (BDP eq μg/day) b | 1600 (1000 to 2000) | 1600 (1000 to 2000) | 1600 (800 to 2000) | 0.4 | ||
Daily Prednisolone dose (mg) b,d | 10 (7.5 to 15) | 10 (5 to 10) | 10 (7.5 to 15) | 0.2 | ||
Asthma Quality of life Questionnaire (AQLQ) | 4.82 (0.14) | 4.77 (0.16) | 4.91 (0.25) | 0.62 | ||
Asthma Control Questionnaire-6 (ACQ-6) | 1.95 (0.13) | 1.97 (0.17) | 1.92 (0.2) | 0.87 | ||
Atopy (n [%]) | 48 (47) | 28 (43) | 20 (54) | 0.29 | ||
IgEa | 143 (106 to 194) | 143 (96 to 212) | 144 (88 to 234) | 0.98 | ||
Pre FEV1/FVC ratio (%) | 68.4 (1.4) | 68.7 (1.9) | 68.0 (1.9) | 0.81 | ||
Pre FEV1 (L) | 2.14 (0.07) | 2.23 (0.09) | 2.00 (0.12) | 0.13 | −0.15 (0.05) | 0.007 |
Post FEV1 (L) | 2.31 (0.08) | 2.39 (0.09) | 2.18 (0.14) | 0.19 | −0.21 (0.07) | 0.005 |
Pre FEV1 (%) | 74 (2) | 76 (2) | 72 (4) | 0.38 | −5.16 (2.24) | 0.03 |
Post FEV1 (%) | 80 (2) | 82 (3) | 76 (4) | 0.24 | −5.99 (1.87) | 0.004 |
VAS cough (mm) | 33 (3) | 35 (3) | 29 (4) | 0.26 | 34 (6) | < 0.0001 |
VAS dyspnoea (mm) | 35 (3) | 36 (3) | 34 (5) | 0.79 | 31 (5) | < 0.0001 |
VAS wheeze (mm) | 26 (3) | 27 (3) | 254 (5) | 0.76 | 28 (5) | < 0.0001 |
TCC (106/g sputum)a | 1.52 (1.20 to 1.93) | 1.56 (1.15 to 2.12) | 1.46 (0.98 to 2.16) | 0.79 | 2.3-fold (1.1 to 4.9) | 0.033 |
Sputum eosinophil cell count (%)a | 1.9 (1.3 to 2.9) | 2.5 (1.5 to 4.1) | 1.2 (0.6 to 2.4) | 0.093 | 1.0-fold (0.4 to 2.1) | 0.91 |
Sputum neutrophil cell count (%) | 62 (3) | 60 (3) | 65 (4) | 0.32 | −3 (6) | 0.67 |
Blood eosinophil cell count (× 109 cells/L)a | 0.24 (0.20 to 0.29) | 0.26 (0.21 to 0.31) | 0.21 (0.14 to 0.32) | 0.31 | 0.70-fold (0.41 to 1.20) | 0.19 |
Blood neutrophil cell count (×109 cells/L) | 5.7 (0.2) | 5.3 (0.3) | 6.2 (0.4) | 0.076 | 0.38 (0.36) | 0.3 |
Fraction of exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) (ppb)a | 23 (20 to 27) | 21 (18 to 25) | 27 (20 to 35) | 0.13 | 1.3-fold (0.9 to 1.8) | 0.1 |