Subject characteristics
| Variables | HC (n=12) | MA (n=11) | SA-high (n=6) | SA-low (n=9) |
| Age (years) | 43±15.5 | 36±10.4 | 45±7.1 | 45±11.5 |
| Gender (M:F) | 9:3 | 7:4 | 4:2 | 5:4 |
| Duration of asthma (years) | NA | 20.8±12.3 | 33.3±12.5 | 35.4±16.9 |
| FEV1 (% of predicted) | 99±7.2 | 95±12.8 | 62±6.8* | 72±18.8* |
| Sputum neutrophils (% of total inflammatory cells) | 50.6±17.2 | 36.4±16.9‡ | 81.1±9.9† | 38.5±15.1 |
| Sputum eosinophils (% of total inflammatory cells) | 0.2±0.4 | 2.0±1.8¶ | 2.6±2.6§ | 13.4±17.7* |
Data are expressed as mean and SEM.
The SA-high and SA-low groups were defined according to neutrophil counts >65% and <65% of total inflammatory cell counts, respectively.
↵* p<0.0001 versus MA and HC.
↵† p<0.0001 versus MA, SA-low and HC.
↵‡ p=0.043 versus HC.
↵§ p=0.0012 versus HC.
↵¶ p<0.0009 versus HC.
F, female; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; HC, healthy controls; M, male; MA, mild asthma; NA, not applicable; SA, severe asthma.