Baseline characteristics of the study population
| High-dose steroid group | Medium-dose steroid group | Total | p-value | |
| Subjects n | 44 | 48 | 92 | |
| Demographic variables | ||||
| Age years | 32 (23–41) | 30 (21–45) | 31 (22–44) | 0.760 |
| Male | 29 (65.9) | 22 (45.8) | 51 (55.4) | 0.053 |
| Height cm | 161.5 (153.5–168) | 159.5 (156–166.5) | 160 (154–167) | 0.812 |
| Weight kg | 53.5 (47.5–63.8) | 51.8 (47–57) | 53 (47.5–63.5) | 0.443 |
| Duration of asthma years | 12 (5–16) | 11 (5–16) | 12 (5–16) | 0.892 |
| Haemoptysis | 12 (27.3) | 7 (14.6) | 19 (20.7) | 0.133 |
| Brownish-black mucus plugs | 11 (25.0) | 7 (14.6) | 18 (19.6) | 0.208 |
| Inappropriate antituberculosis therapy | 11 (25.0) | 14 (29.2) | 25 (27.2) | 0.654 |
| Spirometry | ||||
| FEV1 % LLN | 72.7 (48.2–87.1) | 67.7 (56.9–96.4) | 69.4 (55.9–87.9) | 0.838 |
| FVC % LLN | 86.0 (65.9–92.5) | 84.5 (72.6–95.9) | 85.1 (70.2–94.1) | 0.676 |
| FEV1/FVC | 69.4 (61.5–78.1) | 70.1 (59.6–79.6) | 69.9 (60.9–78.2) | 0.907 |
| Severity of obstruction | ||||
| Mild (FEV1 60–80%) | 16 (36.4) | 13 (27.1) | 29 (31.5) | 0.246 |
| Moderate (FEV1 40–60%) | 5 (11.4) | 11 (22.9) | 16 (17.4) | |
| Severe (FEV1 <40%) | 11 (25) | 7 (14.6) | 18 (19.6) | |
| Chest radiograph findings | ||||
| Abnormal chest radiograph | 30 (68.2) | 26 (55.3) | 56 (61.5) | 0.208 |
| Fleeting opacities | 24 (54.5) | 23 (48.9) | 47 (51.6) | 0.593 |
| Chest HRCT findings | ||||
| Normal HRCT (serologic ABPA) | 10 (22.7) | 16 (33.3) | 26 (28.3) | 0.259 |
| Bronchiectasis | 34 (77.3) | 32 (66.7) | 66 (71.7) | |
| High-attenuation mucus | 10 (22.7) | 14 (29.8) | 25 (27.2) | 0.456 |
| Immunological findings | ||||
| Aspergillus skin test | 42 (95.5) | 42 (87.5) | 84 (91.3) | 0.176 |
| A. fumigatus-specific IgE levels kUA·L−1 | 23.9 (9.7–46.0) | 22.6 (2.8–46.9) | 23.9 (8.3–46.5) | 0.545 |
| Total IgE levels IU·mL−1 | 9879 (5550–12 921) | 7157 (2824–12 694) | 8900 (3400–12 694) | 0.153 |
| Total eosinophil count cells·µL−1 | 600 (196–1200) | 715 (365–1548) | 670 (256–1250) | 0.187 |
| Aspergillus precipitins | 28 (63.6) | 32 (66.7) | 60 (65.2) | 0.760 |
| Asthma treatment | ||||
| Patients on ICS | 44 (100) | 48 (100) | 92 (100) | 1.000 |
| Patients on LABA | 44 (100) | 48 (100) | 92 (100) | 1.000 |
| Patients on LTRA | 12 (25) | 10 (22.7) | 22 (23.9) | 0.799 |
| Dose of ICS (BDPE) µg·day−1 | 926 (768–1084) | 809 (655–962) | 865 (756–974) | 0.290 |
| Dose of LABA µg·day−1 | 28 (23–33) | 24 (20–29) | 26 (23–29) | 0.390 |
All values are presented as median (interquartile range) or n (%), unless otherwise stated. FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 s; LLN: lower limit of normal; FVC: forced vital capacity; HRCT: high-resolution computed tomography; ABPA: allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis; A. fumigatus: Aspergillus fumigatus; ICS: inhaled corticosteroid; LABA: long-acting β2-agonist; LTRA: leukotriene receptor antagonist; BDPE: beclomethasone equivalent.