Clinical, asthma quality of life (QoL), anxiety and depression scores, and blood parameters at presentation in all subjects and those with therapy resistant asthma (TRA) and non-TRA after evaluation
| All patients (n=73) | TRA (n=34) | Non-TRA (n=39) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Clinical scores were graded by the assessing physician on the basis of clinical history and graded 0 (not present/no symptoms), 1 (minor factor/minor symptoms), 2 (major factor/severe symptoms) and presented as % subjects in individual groups. | ||||
| †Asthma related quality of life was assessed using the Juniper scale.7 The response options for each of the 32 items are on a 7 point scale ranging from 1 (totally limited) to 7 (not at all limited); a clinically minimal significant change in overall score is 0.5. | ||||
| ‡Anxiety and depression scores were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale8 (scores categorised as normal 0–7, mild 8–10, moderate 11–14, severe 15–21). | ||||
| Data are presented as mean (SE) or absolute values unless stated otherwise. | ||||
| Upper airway symptoms (% scoring 0, 1, 2)* | 32, 57, 11 | 32, 47, 21 | 30, 67, 3 | NS |
| Social problem (% scoring 0, 1, 2)* | 63, 26, 11 | 65, 32, 3 | 61, 21, 18 | NS |
| Psychological problem (% scoring 0, 1, 2)* | 53, 32, 15 | 59, 35, 6 | 49, 28, 23 | NS |
| Reflux symptoms (% scoring 0, 1, 2)* | 27, 44, 29 | 24, 44, 32 | 31, 43, 26 | NS |
| Total clinical score (median, range)* | 3 (0–6) | 3 (0–5) | 3 (0–6) | NS |
| Asthma QoL score (at baseline)† | 3.3 (0.14) | 3.3 (0.22) | 3.2) 0.17) | NS |
| Anxiety score‡ | 10.6 (0.6) | 10.6 (0.7) | 10.7( 0.9) | NS |
| Depression score‡ | 7.3 (0.5) | 7.3 (0.7) | 7.2 (0.9) | NS |
| Total IgE (kU/l) | 257 (46) | 347 (90) | 179( 33) | NS |
| Sputum eosinophils (%) | 9 (3) | 12 (6) | 6 (3) | NS |
| Blood eosinophils (×109/l) | 0.41 (0.05) | 0.45 (0.06) | 0.39 (0.08) | NS |