Table 4 Comparison of the inter-patient coefficient of variation (CV) for each mediator using raw data or data manipulated using a 5-day rolling mean

	IL-1β (pM)	TNFα (pM)	CXCL8 (nM)	MPO (mg/ml)	LTB4 (nM)	GROα (nM)	Sputum macrophages(106/ml)	Sputum neutrophils(106/ml)	Median CV (IQR)
Median	43.3	2.07	3.6	1.8	6.1	12.3	0.29	2.65
IQR	7.5–413	0.2–55	1.4–14.4	1.1–3.5	1.5–18.6	5–19.5	0.13–0.75	1–6.4
CV calculated from raw data	53.5	407.8	145.4	102	99.8	60.9	100	115.4	101% (90-123)
CV calculated using 5-day rolling mean	52.15	234.6	131	92.15	78.2	58.5	110	89.4	91% (73–115)

The median biomarker concentration (and IQR) is calculated from all measurements for all patients. In order to calculate the inter-patient CVs, the mean logged concentrations were calculated for each biomarker in each patient (either using daily data or data from the first 5-day rolling mean).
IL-1β, interleukin 1β; TNFα, tumour necrosis factor α; CXCL8, interleukin 8; MPO, myeloperoxidase; LTB4, leucotriene B4; GROα, growth-related oncogene α; IQR, interquartile range.