Medications
| Severe nonsmoking asthma | Smokers and ex-smokers with severe asthma | Mild/moderate nonsmoking asthma | |
| Subjects n | 311 | 110 | 88 |
| Oral corticosteroid | 135/295 (45.8%) | 46/103 (44.7%) | 0/88 (0%) |
| Prednisolone (equ.) mg# | 13.2±0.85 (n=122) | 14.8±1.81 (n=36) | NA (NA) |
| Inhaled corticosteroids | 310/311 (99.7%) | 110/110 (100%) | 87/88 (98.9%) |
| Long-acting β-agonist | 305/309(98.7%) | 109/110 (99.1%) | 2/88 (2.3%) |
| Short-acting β-agonist | 260/301 (86.3%) | 82/105 (78.1%) | 68/88 (77.3%) |
| Injected corticosteroids | 19/284 (6.7%) | 1/97 (1.0%) | 0/88 (0%) |
| Mucolytic | 31/286 (10.8%) | 18/100 (18.0%) | 0/88 (0%) |
| Anti-histamine | 75/311 (24.1%) | 16/110 (14.6%) | 4/88 (4.5%) |
| Antibiotic (excluding macrolide) | 11/288 (3.8%) | 4/98 (4.1%) | 0/88 (0%) |
| Macrolide | 32/311 (10.3%) | 13/110 (11.8%) | 0/88 (0%) |
| Long-acting muscarinic antagonist | 65/284 (22.9%) | 27/97 (27.9%) | 0/88 (0%) |
| Short-acting muscarinic antagonist | 127/292 (43.5%) | 48/104 (46.2%) | 0/88 (0%) |
| Omalizumab | 50/287 (17.4%) | 16/98 (16.3%) | 0/88 (0%) |
| Immunosuppressant | 9/311 (2.9%) | 4/110 (3.6%) | 0/88 (0%) |
| Leukotriene modifier | 139/298 (46.6%) | 45/106 (42.5%) | 0/88 (0%) |
| Cromones | 10/284 (3.5%) | 2/97 (2.1%) | 0/88 (0%) |
| Anti-fungal agent | 5/311 (1.6%) | 1/110 (1.0%) | 0/88 (0%) |
| Xanthine | 59/289 (20.4%) | 21/100 (21.0%) | 0/88 (0%) |
| Nebulised β-agonist | 82/284 (28.9%) | 24/97 (24.7%) | 2/88 (2.3%) |
Data are presented as n/N (%) or mean±se, unless otherwise stated. NA: not applicable. #: hydrocortisone and triamcinolone doses were converted to equivalent prednisolone dose (four healthy control participants took as required antihistamines).