Parameter | n (SD) |
All, n | 381 |
Cases with asthma, n | 200 |
Relatives with asthma, n | 181 |
Age, year, mean (SD) | 36.5 (13.1) |
Sex, women, % | 49.6 |
Age of asthma onset, year, mean (SD) | 18.0 (14.7) |
Total IgE, IU/ml, GM | 166 |
Skin prick test positive response (any of 11 allergens), % | 75.1 |
White blood cell counts | |
Eosinophils/mm3, mean (SD) | 275 (200) |
Neutrophils/mm3, mean (SD) | 4202 (1667) |
FEV1 % predicted, mean (SD) | 93.5 (19.9) |
FEV1 <80% predicted, % | 21.4 |
Methacholine challenge, n* | 185 |
PD20⩽4 mg, % | 75.1 |
Current asthma (asthma attacks in the last 12 months), % | 72.3 |
Nocturnal symptoms (last 12 months), % | |
Cough | 46.5 |
Chest tightness | 66.0 |
Shortness of breath | 46.3 |
Asthma events score, last 12 months (1–4)14 | 2.36 (1.21) |
Asthma symptomatic score, last 12 months (1–5)15 | 2.96 (1.77) |
COPD-like symptoms, % | |
Chronic cough | 19.7 |
Chronic phlegm | 14.8 |
Dyspnoea grade 3 | 22.4 |
Smoking habits, % | |
Smokers | 21.7 |
Ex-smokers | 26.8 |
Non-smokers | 51.5 |
Body mass index, kg/m2, mean (SD) | 23.3 (16.2) |
Respiratory infection (last 3 weeks), % | 14.7 |
Treatment (last 12 months), % | |
None | 27.3 |
Without inhaled steroids | 20.5 |
With inhaled steroids | 52.2 |
*Not performed if FEV1 <80% predicted.
COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; GM, geometric mean; IgE, immunoglobulin E; PD20, dose of methacholine causing a 20% drop in FEV1.