FEV1/FVC <70% | FEV1/FVC ≥70% | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Asthma (n=448) | No asthma (n=1162) | Asthma (n=1364) | No asthma (n=10 745) | |
General characteristics | ||||
Men (%) | 43* | 31 | 34‡ | 33 |
Age (years) | 64 (52–72)* | 69 (60–78) | 51 (44–62)‡ | 58 (47–68) |
Weight (kg) | 75 (65–85)† | 73 (64–84) | 78 (67–88)§ | 77 (67–89) |
BMI (kg/m2) | 26 (23–28) | 26 (23–29) | 26 (24–30)§ | 27 (24–30) |
FEV1% of predicted | 74 (61–85)* | 83 (71–93) | 93 (85–102)‡ | 96 (87–106) |
FVC % of predicted | 90 (78–102)* | 98 (85–108) | 94 (86–103)‡ | 95 (86–104) |
FEV1/FVC (%) | 64 (59–67)* | 66 (62–68) | 79 (75–82)‡ | 80 (76–83) |
Familial predisposition for asthma (%) | 36* | 20 | 43§ | 19 |
Asthma, hay fever, or eczema in childhood (%) | 51* | 12 | 48 | 15 |
Low leisure time physical activity (%) | 7 | 9 | 8 | 9 |
Low education (%) | 26† | 33 | 18‡ | 26 |
Low annual household income (%) | 17† | 23 | 11§ | 15 |
Occupational exposure to dust and/or fumes (%) | 12† | 8 | 13 | 10 |
Daily exposure to passive smoking (%) | 14 | 14 | 23‡ | 21 |
Clinical characteristics | ||||
Allergy (%) | 83* | 29 | 85 | 33 |
Use of respiratory medication (%) | 79* | 5 | 65‡ | 2 |
Duration of asthma (years) | 28 (12–43) | NA | 18 (8–30)‡ | NA |
Respiratory symptoms | ||||
Wheezing (%) | 79* | 27 | 76 | 25 |
During a cold (%) | 53 | 60 | 58 | 65 |
During activity (%) | 55* | 31 | 54 | 24 |
Unknown situations (%) | 21† | 32 | 22 | 30 |
Dyspnoea¶ (%) | 68* | 79 | 60§ | 77 |
Nighttime dyspnoea (%) | 21* | 7 | 19 | 7 |
mMRC ≥2 (%) | 22 | 22 | 16§ | 16 |
Chest pain or tightness (%) | 10 | 10 | 7 | 8 |
Sputum (%) | 24† | 17 | 19§ | 13 |
Cough (%) | 41* | 21 | 50§ | 22 |
Any respiratory symptoms (%) | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Severity of airflow limitation | ||||
FEV1% of predicted ≥80 (%) | 36* | 58 | 85‡ | 89 |
≥60 FEV1% of predicted <80 (%) | 40† | 32 | 14‡ | 10 |
FEV1% of predicted <60 (%) | 24* | 10 | 1‡ | 1 |
Level of inflammatory biomarkers in the systemic circulation | ||||
C reactive protein (mg/L) | 1.5 (1.0–2.3) | 1.5 (1.0–2.6) | 1.5 (1.0–2.6) | 1.5 (1.0–2.6) |
Fibrinogen (μmol/L) | 10.9 (9.4–13.0) | 11.1 (9.8–12.9) | 10.6 (9.3–12.5) | 11.0 (9.5–12.7) |
Leucocytes (×109/L) | 7.2 (6.2–8.4)* | 6.9 (5.9–8.0) | 7.1 (6.2–8.1) | 6.9 (6.0–8.1) |
Neutrophils (×109/L) | 4.2 (3.4–5.2)† | 4.0 (3.3–4.9) | 4.1 (3.4–4.9)§ | 4.0 (3.3–4.9) |
Eosinophils (×109/L) | 0.27 (0.17–0.40)* | 0.17 (0.11–0.25) | 0.21 (0.13–0.33)‡ | 0.16 (0.11–0.24) |
IgE** (IU/mL) | 77 (29–188)* | 26 (9–61) | 48 (20–104)‡ | 23 (8–52) |
Data are summarised as median with the 25th and 75th percentiles, or per cent.
*p<0.001 and †p<0.05 for comparison among individuals with airflow limitation, calculated using Pearson's χ2 test if comparing categorical data and Wilcoxon's non-parametric rank-sum test if comparing continues data.
‡p<0.001 and §p<0.05 for comparison among individuals with asthma, calculated using Pearson's χ2 test if comparing categorical data and Wilcoxon's non-parametric rank-sum test if comparing continues data.
¶Dyspnoea was shortness of breath during different levels of activity, at nighttime, and/or while seated/at rest.
**Not available for all individuals listed in the table.
BMI, body mass index; mMRC, modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale; NA, not applicable.