Subject demographics at baseline
| Symptom management group (n=28) | Inflammatory management group (n=27) | |
| Demographics | ||
| Male | 13 (46%) | 16 (59%) |
| Age (years) | 12.6 (10.2–14.7) | 13.4 (11.1–15.8) |
| Atopic | 23 (82%) | 23 (85%) |
| Clinical characteristics | ||
| Duration of asthma symptoms (years) | 11.2 (8.2–13.7) | 11.2 (9.3–14.6) |
| Age ICS started (years) | 3.0 (1.0–4.0) | 3.0 (2.0–5.0) |
| Previous admission to PICU ever | 6 (21%) | 5 (19%) |
| Daily dose of FP (μg) | 625 (500–1000) | 500 (500–1000) |
| Maintenance OCS | 4 (14%) | 4 (15%) |
| Major exacerbations in previous year | 3.5 (1–6) | 2.0 (0–6) |
| ≥1 major exacerbation in previous year | 23 (82%) | 20 (74%) |
| Sputum eosinophil count (%) | 1.8 (0–5.6) | 5.3 (0.3–17.5) |
| Eosinophil count >2.5% | 7 (39%) | 9 (53%) |
| Sputum neutrophil count (%) | 18.3 (10.9–24.9) | 31.3 (7.5–74.0) |
| FENO (ppb) | 35.5 (18.8–59.8) | 23.5 (13.5–59.9) |
| FENO >30 ppb | 16 (57%) | 12 (44%) |
| z score FEV1 | −1.2 (1.2) | –1.2 (1.2) |
| Asthma control at baseline* | ||
| Symptom-free days per week | 5 (4–6) | 4 (0–5.5) |
| Nights per week of sleep disruption | 1 (0–2) | 0.5 (0–4) |
| SABA use >5 times per week | 15 (54%) | 15 (56%) |
| Exercise-induced symptoms | 19 (76%) | 17 (71%) |
Data are expressed as median (IQR) or number (%), except FEV1 which is expressed as mean (SD).
↵* Patient recall in the 2 weeks prior to enrolment.
FENO, exhaled nitric oxide; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FP, fluticasone propionate; ICS, inhaled corticosteroids; OCS, oral corticosteroids; PICU, paediatric intensive care unit; SABA, short-acting β agonist.