Patients’ characteristics at baseline assessment
| Variables | All (n=216) | CPA (n=12) | non-CPA (n=204) | P value |
| Gender | ||||
| Male | 102 (47%) | 9 (75%) | 93 (46%) | |
| Female | 114 (53) | 3 (25%) | 111 (54%) | 0.047 |
| Age (mean with range) | 39.8 (17–78) | 44.4 (23–77) | 39.5 (17–78) | 0.300 |
| Symptoms (>3 months) | ||||
| Cough | 38 (18%) | 11 (93%) | 27 (13%) | <0.001 |
| Fatigue | 22 (10%) | 5 (42%) | 17 (8%) | 0.003 |
| Dyspnoea | 18 (8%) | 2 (17%) | 16 (8%) | 0.263 |
| Chest pain | 18 (8%) | 3 (25%) | 15 (7%) | 0.067 |
| Weight loss | 4 (2%) | 2 (17%) | 2 (1%) | 0.016 |
| Haemoptysis | 2 (1%) | 1 (8%) | 1 (1%) | 0.108 |
| Intermittent haemoptysis (<3 months) | 47 (22%) | 5 (42%) | 42 (21%) | 0.140 |
| Radiology | ||||
| Infiltrates | 184 (85%) | 7 (58%) | 177 (87%) | 0.019 |
| Cavitation | 117 (54%) | 11 (92%) | 106 (52%) | 0.007 |
| Air fluid level in cavities | 50 (23%) | 6 (50%) | 44 (22%) | 0.034 |
| Paracavitary fibrosis | 65 (30%) | 6 (50%) | 59 (29%) | 0.191 |
| Pleural thickening | 65 (30%) | 10 (84%) | 55 (27%) | <0.001 |
| Nodules | 32 (15%) | 0 | 32 (16%) | 0.221 |
| Bronchiectasis | 31 (14%) | 3 (25%) | 28 (14%) | 0.386 |
| Aspergilloma* | 6 (3%) | 0 | 6 (3%) | 1 |
| Chronic diseases | ||||
| Diabetes mellitus | 38 (18%) | 5 (42%) | 33 (16%) | 0.040 |
| Hypertension | 20 (9%) | 1 (8%) | 19 (9%) | 1.000 |
| Asthma | 13 (6%) | 1 (8%) | 12 (6%) | 0.535 |
| COPD | 5 (2%) | 0 | 5 (3%) | 1.000 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 4 (2%) | 0 | 4 (2%) | 1.000 |
Bold values indicate statistical significance.
*One aspergilloma in non-CPA group (Aspergillus-specific IgG negative) was confirmed on CT scan, the other five were unconfirmed aspergilloma diagnosed on chest X-ray.
CPA, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis.