Table 1 Clinical, functional, and biologic parameters of patients

Mild/Severe asthma

n.a.

22/18

12/7

10/11

Age (years)

48.6 ± 19.7 (19–74)

50.4 ± 11.3 (31–70)

50.0 ± 9.2 (34–66)

50.7 ± 13.3 (31–70)

Sex (M/F)

4/3

17/19

11/8

9/12

BMI (Kg/m²)

25.2 ± 3.4

26.4 ± 4.9

26.2 ± 4.7

26.2 ± 5.3

Asthma onset (mean ± SD)

n.a.

27.3 ± 16.8

31.3 ± 16.9

22.5 ± 16.1

Asthma onset (< 18 years)

n.a.

14/40 (35.0%)

5/19 (26.3%)

9/21 (42.9%)

Asthma duration (years)

n.a.

23.2 ± 17.8

18.7 ± 15.0

28.2 ± 18.7

Current smokers§

1/7 (14.3%)

2/40 (5.0%)

1/19 (5.3%)

1/21 (4.8%)

Past smokers§

0/7 (0.0%)

11/40 (27.5%)

7/19 (36.8%)

4/21 (19.0%)

Atopy

0/7 (0.0%)

23/40 (57.5%)##

9/19 (47.4%)

14/21 (66.7%)##

Polysensitized

0/7 (0.0%)

18/23 (78.2%)

8/9 (88.9%)

10/14 (71.4%)

Perennial allergen sensitization

0/7 (0.0%)

14/18 (77.7%)

5/8 (62.5%)

9/10 (90.0%)

IgE (KUI/L)

n.a.

198.1 ± 253.3

180.2 ± 250.2

196.6 ± 252.1

FeNO (ppb)¥

n.a.

31.5 ± 25.1

35.7 ± 21.1

29.3 ± 26.9

WBC (cell/µL)

6.6 ± 4.5

7.0 ± 1.7

7.1 ± 1.8

6.9 ± 1.6

Blood eosinophils (cell/µL)

57.0 ± 20.4

288.8 ± 203.5##

297.9 ± 184.4####

293.3 ± 236.5###

Blood neutrophils (cell/µL)

4613 ± 3967

3548 ± 1183

3679 ± 1347

3440 ± 1024

Blood lymphocytes (cell/µL)

1907 ± 1276

2293 ± 690.1

2236 ± 825.1

2438 ± 653.4

Blood monocytes (cell/µL)

597.0 ± 727.2

515.5 ± 183.9

540.0 ± 179.1

509.0 ± 191.1

Blood basophils (cell/µL)

13.3 ± 5.8

49.5 ± 28.0

47.9 ± 25.9

49.5 ± 32.0

pre FVC (% pred.)

116.0 ± 16.1

104.9 ± 19.0

105.2 ± 16.8

102.8 ± 20.7

PB FVC (% pred.)

n.a.

106.3 ± 15.4

109.1 ± 16.9

104.2 ± 14.2

pre FEV₁ (% pred.)

104.4 ± 33.8

82.7 ± 24.7

87.0 ± 21.0

76.3 ± 26.9#

PB FEV₁ (% pred.)

n.a.

86.0 ± 26.6

88.8 ± 31.0

82.7 ± 22.3

PB FEV₁ (% pred.) (< 80%)°

n.a.

14/40 (35.0%)

5/19 (26.3%)

9/21 (42.8%)

pre FEV₁/FVC

0.78 ± 0.0

0.65 ± 0.15

0.68 ± 0.13

0.61 ± 0.15

PB FEV₁/FVC

n.a.

0.68 ± 0.14

0.71 ± 0.13

0.66 ± 0.15

PB FEV₁/FVC (≤ 0,70)°

n.a.

19/40 (47.5%)

9/19 (47.4%)

10/21 (47.6%)

RV (% pred.)

n.a.

124.5 ± 44.7

117.3 ± 25.5

132.9 ± 54.4

TLC (%pred.)

n.a.

112.5 ± 16.4

104.6 ± 10.9

119.4 ± 17.6*

FRC (%pred.)

n.a.

109.1 ± 33.5

97.4 ± 19.4

119.8 ± 39.3*

ICS/day (µg fluticasone HFA eq.)

n.a.

462.5 ± 349.4

394.7 ± 318.5

583.3 ± 422.7

OCS (≥ 6 months/year)

n.a.

4/40 (10.0%)

0/19 (0.0%)

4/21 (19.0%)

Mean exacerbation rate

n.a.

1.5 ± 1.7

1.1 ± 0.9

1.9 ± 2.1

Frequent exacerbation (≥ 2/year)

n.a.

14/36 (35.0%)

5/19 (26.3%)

9/21 (42.9%)