TABLE 4

Adjusted longitudinal associations between neutrophilic or eosinophilic granulocyte patterns at baseline (Epidemiological Study on the Genetics and Environment of Asthma (EGEA)1), or similar patterns at baseline and follow-up (EGEA1 and EGEA2) and asthma or asthma-related phenotypes at follow-up (EGEA2)

	*NEU^hi versus* NEU^lo at baseline**	*NEU^hi versus* NEU^lo at baseline and follow-up**	*EOS^hi versus* EOS^lo at baseline**	*EOS^hi versus* EOS^lo at baseline and follow-up**
Subjects n/N	52/190	24/159	106/136	55/99
Methacholine challenge^# PD₂₀ ≤4 mg	0.67 (0.27–1.69)	NA^¶	2.36 (1.10–5.07)	3.85 (1.11–13.3)
Asthma attack in past 12 months	0.90 (0.48–1.69)	1.22 (0.52–2.87)	1.02 (0.61–1.71)	1.30 (0.67–2.54)
Nocturnal symptoms in past 12 months
Cough	0.80 (0.42–1.50)	0.93 (0.37–2.30)	0.63 (0.36–1.09)	0.65 (0.31–1.39)
Chest tightness	0.77 (0.39–1.53)	1.10 (0.43–2.81)	1.11 (0.63–1.95)	1.21 (0.58–2.51)
Shortness of breath	0.77 (0.42–1.42)	1.08 (0.46–2.52)	1.01 (0.60–1.68)	1.07 (0.53–2.16)
Asthma control
Controlled	1	1	1	1
Partly controlled/uncontrolled	1.52 (0.79–2.89)	3.09 (1.18–8.09)	1.30 (0.77–2.21)	1.68 (0.84–3.34)
Exacerbations in past 12 months	0.85 (0.37–1.95)	1.97 (0.70–5.53)	1.26 (0.65–2.43)	0.85 (0.33–2.23)
Chronic cough	0.96 (0.39–2.36)	1.89 (0.59–6.07)	0.81 (0.38–1.75)	1.31 (0.47–3.63)
Chronic phlegm	0.90 (0.34–2.41)	2.11 (0.27–5.08)	1.32 (0.61–2.84)	1.87 (0.67–5.20)
Dyspnoea grade 3	1.30 (0.65–2.62)	1.66 (0.59–4.68)	1.24 (0.68–2.26)	1.33 (0.57–3.07)

Data are presented as n/N or adjusted OR (95% CI). OR (95% CI) were adjusted for age, sex and smoking at baseline, and taking into account familial dependence of the participants. n=242. Bold type represents statistical significance. NEU^hi: ≥5000 neutrophils·mm⁻³; NEU^lo: <5000 neutrophils·mm⁻³; EOS^hi: ≥250 eosinophils·mm⁻³; EOS^lo: <250 eosinophils·mm⁻³; PD₂₀: provocative dose causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁); NA: not available. ^#: not performed if baseline FEV₁ <80% predicted; ^¶: due to smallest sample sizes.