Clinical characteristics of patients with asthma
| Exacerbation (n=21) | Stable (n=21) | |
|---|---|---|
| PEF = peak expiratory flow. | ||
| *Data are presented as mean (SE). | ||
| †Classification of the severity of asthma based on GINA guidelines: step 1=intermittent; step 2=mild persistent; step 3=moderate persistent. | ||
| ‡p<0.0001 v patients with stable asthma (Mann-Whitney U non-parametric test). | ||
| Sex (M/F) | 11/10 | 9/12 |
| Age (years)* | 41.3 (4.3) | 38.8 (3.9) |
| Asthma duration (years)* | 12.4 (2.7) | 14.1 (2.7) |
| Atopic/non-atopic | 16/5 | 16/5 |
| Step 1/2/3† | 7/8/6 | 4/9/8 |
| Morning PEF (% personal best)* | 56.9 (2.1)‡ | 87.2 (1.8) |