Table 1 The study subjects’ characteristics

Age (years)

44.0 (27.0-51.5) #

55.0 (38.0–74.0)

68.0 (64.0–74.0) #

0.008

Gender (F/M)

4 F/1 M

6 F/2 M

3 F/5 M

0.192

BMI (kg/m²)

23.0 (20.8–24.7)

26.9 (23.0-28.7)

28.0 (23.8–31.7)

0.0668

Atopy (n)

2

5

0

0.014

Smoking exposure (pack-years)

0.0 (0.0–0.0) #

0.0 (0.0-0.8) &

35.5(24.8–50.0) #, &

< 0.0001

FEV₁ (% predicted)

103.0 (94.0-124.5) #

82.0 (75.0–87.0)

65.5 (60.3–82.0) #

0.002

FEV₁/VC (%)

87.1 (79.7–102.0) #

85.0 (73.0–91.0) &

57.2 (43.9–67.0) #, &

0.0004

FeNO (ppb)

15.9 (13.9–20.9)

29.7 (26.8–42.2)

26.1 (18.7–48.6)

0.05

ACT (points)

n.a.

23.0 (19.0–23.0)

n.a.

n.a.

ICS treatment (n)

0

4

0.0 (0.0–0.0)

n.a.

CAT (points)

n.a.

n.a.

6.5 (5.8–10.5)

n.a.

mMRC (points)

n.a.

n.a.

1.0 (1.0-2.5)

n.a.