Blood eosinophils <400 cells per mm3, sputum eosinophils <3%# | Blood eosinophils <400 cells per mm3, sputum eosinophils ≥3% | Blood eosinophils ≥400 cells per mm3, sputum eosinophils <3% | Blood eosinophils ≥400 cells per mm3, sputum eosinophils ≥3% | |
Subjects | 249 (49) | 128 (25) | 34 (7) | 97 (19) |
Males/females n | 78/171 | 54/74* | 16/18 | 53/44*** |
Age years | 52 (21–86) | 53 (21–88) | 51 (21–85) | 51 (19–86) |
Age of onset | ||||
<12 years | 22.6 | 27.6 | 26.5 | 23.3 |
12–40 years | 34.5 | 36.2 | 32.3 | 45.6 |
≥40 years | 42.9 | 36.2 | 41.2 | 31.1 |
Height cm | 166±9 | 168±9 | 169±9 | 169±9 |
Weight kg | 73±16 | 74±15 | 76±17 | 75±17 |
BMI kg·m−2 | 26.3±5 | 26.4±5 | 26.3±4.8 | 26.4±5.3 |
Atopy yes/no (%) | 126/123 (51) | 82/46 (64)* | 22/12 (65) | 66/31 (68)** |
Current smokers | 54 (22) | 29 (23) | 6 (18) | 12 (12)* |
Bronchiectasis¶,+ | 19 | 13 | 17 | 26 |
Gastro-oesophageal reflux | 77 | 81 | 86 | 77 |
Nasal polyposis§ | 9 | 25*** | 37*** | 43*** |
Sinusitis§,ƒ | 34 | 38 | 42 | 61*** |
Rhinitis | 53 | 59 | 72 | 65 |
Exacerbations per patient per year## | 0.42±0.9 | 0.93±2.72* | 0.59±0.98 | 1.5±2.5*** |
ICS | ||||
Steroid naïve | 82 (33) | 31 (24) | 9 (26) | 31 (32) |
Low dose¶¶ | 30 (12) | 20 (16) | 5 (15) | 18 (19) |
Moderate++ | 70 (28) | 37 (29) | 11 (32) | 20 (21) |
High dose§§ | 67 (27) | 40 (31)* | 9 (26) | 28 (29) |
Data are presented as n (%), median (range), % or mean±sd, unless otherwise stated. BMI: body mass index; ICS: inhaled corticosteroids. #: comparator group; ¶: n=174; +: based on chest computed tomography (CT); §: based on sinus CT and nasal endoscopy; ƒ: n=273; ##: during the year prior to the visit; ¶¶: ≤500 μg per day beclomethasone; ++: 500–1000 μg per day beclomethasone; §§: >1000 μg per day beclomethasone. *: p<0.05; **: p<0.01; ***: p<0.001.