Baseline characteristics of subjects stratified in tertiles defined by the baseline eosinophil differential cell count
| Eosinophil count | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| <1 (n = 20) | 1–3.9 (n = 20) | >3.9 (n = 20) | |
| FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC, forced vital capacity; BD, bronchodilator; CRQ, Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire; TCC, total cell count; IL-8, interleukin 8; ECP, eosinophilic cationic protein; SOB, shortness of breath; VAS, visual analogue score. | |||
| †Mean (SE), ‡geometric mean (log SE), ¶median (IQR). | |||
| *p<0.05 comparison across groups (ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test). | |||
| Male | 10 | 15 | 15 |
| Age (years)† | 66 (2) | 68 (2) | 68 (2) |
| Current smoker | 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Ex-smokers | 14 | 11 | 14 |
| Pack years† | 40 (5) | 41 (6) | 39 (5) |
| Treated with long actingβ2 agonists (n) | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Atopic (subjects with +ve RAST) | 7 | 6 | 9 |
| IgE (kU/l)† | 77 (21) | 63 (13) | 197 (53)* |
| Blood eosinophil count (×109/l)‡ | 0.15 (0.02) | 0.25 (0.04) | 0.37 (0.06)* |
| Total CRQ† | 4.0 (0.3) | 3.9 (0.2) | 4.5 (0.3) |
| FEV1 (l)† | 1.35 (0.13) | 1.29 (0.1) | 1.03 (0.09) |
| FEV1 BD (l)† | 1.47 (0.14) | 1.42 (0.11) | 1.09 (0.1) |
| FEV1 (% predicted)† | 47 (3) | 47 (3) | 38 (3) |
| FVC (l)† | 2.5 (0.2) | 2.3 (0.2) | 2.2 (0.2) |
| Sputum characteristics | |||
| Eosinophils (%)¶ | 0.4 (0.1) | 2 (0.04) | 7.5 (0.05) |
| Neutrophils (%)¶ | 67 (41–89) | 81 (68–84) | 80 (65–89) |
| Macrophages (%)¶ | 29 (10–53) | 14 (9–27) | 10 (4–24) |
| Lymphocytes (%)¶ | 0.5 (0.16–0.9) | 0.8 (0.05–1.25) | 0.2 (0–0.7) |
| Epithelial cells (%)¶ | 0.8 (10.2–2.2) | 0.9 (0.2, 2.4) | 0.9 (0.2–2.5) |
| TCC (×106 cells/g sputum)† | 4.8 (1.4) | 2.9 (0.5) | 3.7 (1.0) |
| Histamine (ng/g)‡ | 45 (0.17) | 84 (0.16) | 48 (0.1) |
| IL-8 (ng/g)‡ | 135 (0.9) | 100 (0.08) | 142 (0.1) |
| ECP (ng/g)‡ | 687 (0.09) | 998 (0.1) | 1769 (0.2) |
| CRQ domain scores | |||
| Dyspnoea† | 3.3 (0.3) | 3.1 (0.3) | 3.7 (0.3) |
| Fatigue† | 3.6 (0.3) | 3.5 (0.2) | 4.0 (0.3) |
| Emotion† | 4.4 (0.3) | 4.5 (0.2) | 4.9 (0.3) |
| Mastery† | 4.5 (0.3) | 4.5 (0.3) | 5.3 (0.3) |
| Symptom scores (VAS) | |||
| Cough (mm)† | 35 (7) | 34 (6) | 43 (7) |
| Sputum (mm)† | 25 (6) | 38 (6) | 26 (5) |
| SOB (mm)† | 51 (7) | 48 (5) | 45 (7) |
| Wheeze (mm)† | 27 (6) | 25 (5) | 32 (6) |