Table 1—

Patient characteristics at baseline examination in relation to asthma severity

Parameter	Asthma stage
Parameter	1	2	3	4
Number	32	78	91	33
Age yrs	32±9	33±10	37±10	43±9
Gender female %	78	63	61	64
Height cm	165±8	167±9	166±10	165±11
Weight Kg	63±15	67±14	68±15	76±16
Duration of asthma yrs	16±11	18±12	21±12	24±13
FEV₁ % predicted	93±4	91±4	81±4	59±7
Atopy* %	80	77	75	64
Rhinitis %	72	68	64	67
Current smokers %	19	19	21	12

Data are presented as mean±sd, unless otherwise stated
FEV₁: forced expiratory volume in one second
*: atopy was defined by the presence of at least one positive skin-prick test