Table 1– Clinical outcomes and sputum cell counts after azithromycin treatment or placebo

Variables	Baseline		4 weeks		Treatment difference^#, azithromycin minus placebo (95%CI)	8 weeks		Treatment difference^#, azithromycin minus placebo (95%CI)	12 weeks		Treatment difference^#, azithromycin minus placebo (95%CI)
	Placebo	Azithromycin	Placebo	Azithromycin		Placebo	Azithromycin		Placebo	Azithromycin
Morning clinic PEF L·min⁻¹	411.1±124.3	390.5±114.5	412.9±110.6	384.2±143.5	-4.2 (-30.6–22.2), p=0.75	406.0±120.4	394.6±150.7	1.2 (-28.1–30.5), p=0.94	416.7±122.7	394.2±156.3	-10.3 (-47.1–26.4), p=0.58
FEV₁ pre-albuterol L	2.54±0.77	2.43±0.72	2.48±0.74	2.37±0.76	0.08 (-0.06–0.23), p=0.25	2.47±0.77	2.42±0.75	0.03 (-0.08–0.14), p=0.55	2.46±0.75	2.41±0.77	0.03 (-0.08–0.14), p=0.62
FEV₁ post-albuterol L	2.80±0.80	2.68±0.73	2.73±0.72	2.59±0.74	0.04 (-0.08–0.17), p=0.50	2.72±0.80	2.68±0.74	0.04 (-0.04–0.12), p=0.34	2.70±0.79	2.66±0.77	0.04 (-0.06–0.14), p=0.41
Reliever inhaler puffs per 24 h	2.8±2.9	2.9±4.4	2.5±2.7	3.1±4.4	-0.1 (-0.8–0.6), p=0.78	2.5±2.6	2.4±2.8	0.3 (-0.5–1.0), p=0.50	2.7±2.5	3.0 [4.0	-0.3 (-1.3–0.7), p=0.55
7-point ACQ score	1.76±0.88	1.73±0.74	1.64±0.90	1.74±0.85	0.12 (-0.18–0.42), p=0.43	1.69 ±1.03	1.86±0.99	0.21 (-0.14–0.55), p=0.23	1.58±0.96	1.75±0.83	0.21 (-0.11–0.53), p=0.20
logPC₂₀ mg·mL⁻¹	0.07±1.14	0.06±1.41	ND	ND		ND	ND		0.19±1.29	0.20±1.52	-0.02 (-0.49–0.45), p=0.93
Total LCQ score	16.90±3.49	16.31±3.53	ND	ND		ND	ND		17.51±3.55	16.01±3.02	-1.06 (-2.16–0.05), p=0.06
Total AQLQ score	5.09±0.99	5.25±1.18	ND	ND		ND	ND		5.42±1.31	5.20±1.06	-0.31 (-0.69–0.07), p=0.11
F_eNO50 ppb	15.6±21.2	11.5±8.9	ND	ND		ND	ND		16.2±20.1	11.0±7.9	-1.94 (-5.97–2.10), p=0.34
Total sputum cell count ×10⁴	644±240	626±245	ND	ND		ND	ND		714±326	668±211	1.0 (0.9–1.2), p=0.75
Neutrophil ×10⁴	150±123	172±103	ND	ND		ND	ND		141±96	162±97	19.2 (-24.2–62.6), p=0.38
Neutrophil %	33.1±24.3	39.0±22.5	ND	ND		ND	ND		31.0±19.9	34.4±18.6	3.0 (-5.9–11.8), p=0.50
Eosinophil ×10⁴	4.9±6.4	6.9±9.3	ND	ND		ND	ND		6.8±13.9	10.3±20.1	1.0 (0.5–2.0), p=0.89
Eosinophil %	1.1±1.5	1.6±2.3	ND	ND		ND	ND		1.5±3.1	1.6±3.0	-0.4 (-1.8–1.0), p=0.55

Data are presented as mean±sd, unless otherwise stated. PEF: peak expiratory flow rate; FEV₁: forced expiratory volume in 1 s; ACQ: Asthma Control Questionnaire; PC₂₀: provocation concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in FEV₁; LCQ: Leicester Cough Questionnaire; AQLQ: Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire; F_eNO50: exhaled nitric oxide fraction at 50 mL·s⁻¹; ND: not done. ^#: treatment difference from ANCOVA analysing change from baseline and adjusting for baseline value.