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 | ||
FeNO50 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; FeNO50: 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.