Details of the 42 subjects included in the analyses, measured at the baseline visit before the first ICS dose reduction. Sputum inflammatory cells were measured in 24 subjects
| Mean (95% CI) | |
|---|---|
| Values are means or *geometric means and 95% confidence intervals of the mean, unless otherwise indicated. | |
| ICS = inhaled corticosteroids; FEV1 = forced expiratory volume in 1 second; PS20FEV1 = Borg score at 20% fall in FEV1. | |
| M:F (n) | 23:19 |
| Age (years) | 43.4 (38.9 to 48.0) |
| Duration of asthma (years) | 26.1 (21.5 to 30.8) |
| Ex-smokers (n) | 12 |
| Atopic (% of group) | 95% |
| Exhaled NO (ppb)* | 17.5 (14.9 to 20.6) |
| FEV1 (% predicted) | 85.5 (79.7 to 91.3) |
| No with +ve mannitol challenge | 22 |
| No taking LABA | 7 |
| ICS dose (μg/day, BDP equivalent) | 975 (803 to 1147) |
| Perception | |
| Slope (Borg/FEV1 % fall)* | 0.26 (0.20 to 0.32) |
| Intercept (Borg units) | 1.04 (0.7 to 1.38) |
| PS20FEV1 (Borg units) | 6.16 (4.8 to 7.51) |
| Correlation coefficient (Borg score × FEV1 % fall) | 0.84 (0.79 to 0.89) |
| Sputum inflammatory cells (% total inflammatory cells) | |
| N | 24 |
| Eosinophils (%)* | 2.7 (1.51 to 4.8) |
| Neutrophils (%)* | 15.1 (10.5 to 21.7) |
| Macrophages (%) | 66.4 (57.9 to 75.0) |
| Lymphocytes (%) | 2.0 (0.34 to 3.73) |