Characteristics | Healthy controls n=23 | Mild asthma n=16 | Moderate asthma n=16 |
Male/female | 13/10 | 8/8 | 8/8 |
Mean age (years) | 24 | 24 | 24 |
Range | 21–24 | 18–32 | 19–41 |
BMI | 23.6 (2.0) | 24.1 (3.0) | 23.0 (3.3) |
FEV1 % predicted | 97 (9) | 99 (14) | 93 (8) |
Skin prick test | Negative | Positive | Positive |
BHR PC20 | – | 2.7 (1.8) | >8 mg/ml* |
Range | 0.6–7.5 | 2.6–32 | |
FENO at inclusion | – | 38 (32) | 27 (27) |
β2-agonist OD | – | Yes | Yes |
ICS treatment | – | No | Yes |
↵* Five out of 16 subjects with moderate asthma were hyper-responsive to metacholine at inclusion. Data are given as mean (SD).
BHR, bronchial hyper-responsiveness; BMI, body mass index (kg/m2), FENO, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; ICS, inhaled corticosteroid (budesonide 200–1200 μg/day); OD, on demand; PC20, the concentration of metacholine required to provoke a 20% decrease in FEV1.