Baseline characteristics of all subjects subsequently categorised as eosinophilic asthma (EA) and non-eosinophilic asthma (NEA)
| All (n=94) | EA (n=65) | NEA (n=29) | p (EA vs NEA) | |
| Age (years) | 43 (13) | 43 (12) | 43 (16) | 0.980 |
| Male* | 34 (36%) | 24 (37%) | 10 (34%) | 0.820 |
| Age at onset (years) | 17 (18) | 19 (18) | 13 (17) | 0.134 |
| Ex-smokers* | 25 (27%) | 19 (29%) | 6 (21%) | 0.387 |
| Atopic* | 74 (80%) | 50 (77%) | 24 (86%) | 0.335 |
| On ICS* | 74 (79%) | 56 (86%) | 18 (62%) | 0.008 |
| ICS dose (μg daily)† | 714 (616) | 856 (620) | 397 (478) | 0.001 |
| ICS dose (μg daily)† ‡ | 700 (200–1000) | 1000 (400–1000) | 200 (0–600) | <0.001 |
| On LABA/combined ICS+LABA* | 30 (32%) | 24 (37%) | 6 (21%) | 0.119 |
| ACQ | 0.9 (0.6) | 0.9 (0.7) | 0.9 (0.6) | 0.714 |
| FEV1% predicted | 88 (16) | 88 (16) | 88 (16) | 0.902 |
| FEV1% change post-bronchodilator | 10 (9) | 10 (10) | 9 (7) | 0.501 |
| Feno (ppb)§ | 27.8 (24.0 to 32.2) | 29.6 (24.7 to 35.6) | 24.1 (18.9 to 30.7) | 0.204 |
Results presented as mean (SD) or n (%) unless otherwise stated.
Unpaired t tests were used for comparisons unless otherwise stated. Significant p values in bold.
↵* Analysed by χ2 tests.
↵† Beclomethasone equivalents: 1 μg beclomethasone = 1 μg budesonide = 0.5 μg fluticasone.
↵‡ Analysed by Mann–Whitney U test and results presented as median (interquartile range).
↵§ Analysed after logarithmic transformation and results presented as geometric mean (95% CI).
ACQ, Asthma Control Questionnaire; Feno, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; ICS, inhaled corticosteroid; LABA, long-acting β agonist.