Demographic characteristics of the patients
| MA | SA | COPD | Statistical analysis | |||
| MA/SA | MA/COPD | SA/COPD | ||||
| Subjects n | 14 | 16 | 12 | |||
| Females n | 6 | 7 | 1 | |||
| Age yrs | 52.5 (45–58) | 53.5 (35–65) | 71 (56.5–72.5) | ns | <0.01 | <0.01 |
| Smoking pack-yrs | 0 | 0 | 55 (42.5–80) | |||
| FEV1 L | 3.08 (2.16–3.52) | 1.44 (1.30–2.04) | 1.41 (1.16–1.52) | <0.001 | <0.001 | ns |
| FEV1 % pred | 93 (86–100) | 54.5 (44.5–62) | 50.5 (45–55) | <0.001 | <0.001 | ns |
| Pa,O2 mmHg | 90.5 (86–95) | 78.5 (73.5–90.5) | 71.5 (71–78.5) | <0.016 | <0.001 | <0.016 |
| DL,CO % pred | 103.5 (86–118) | 94 (79–100) | 61 (52.5–73) | ns | <0.0003 | <0.007 |
| CT scan score | 2 (0–4) | 6.5 (2.5–16) | 19 (15–25.5) | <0.01 | <0.001 | <0.01 |
Data are presented as median (interquartile range), unless otherwise stated. Statistical analysis was performed by the Mann-Whitney U-test and Bonferroni's correction. Data were considered statistically significant when p<0.016. MA: mild asthma (untreated asthma); SA: severe asthma (corticosteroid-dependent asthma); COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in one second; Pa,O2: arterial oxygen tension; DL,CO: carbon monoxide diffusing capacity of the lung; CT: computed tomography; ns: nonsignificant. 1 kPa=0.133 mmHg