Demographical characteristics study population
| Asthma | COPD | |
| N | 879 | 631 |
| Age yrs | 44.2±0.7 | 64.3±0.5* |
| M/F | 2.3 | 7.3* |
| BMI kg·m2 | 24.2±0.2 | 25.4±0.2* |
| Smokers % | 33.3 | 100* |
| Tobacco smoking pack-yrs | 19.5±1.1 | 41.0±0.8* |
| VAS 0–100 | 34.6±0.9 | 48.3±1.0* |
| PEFR | ||
| L·min−1 | 300.0±4.5 | 234.6±4.7* |
| % | 67.7±0.8 | 53.6±0.9* |
| FEV1 | ||
| L | 2.3±0.0 | 1.6±0.0* |
| % | 75.7±0.8 | 58.2±1.0* |
| FEV1/VC | ||
| L | 71.9±0.5 | 58.4±0.7* |
| % | 117.2±1.2 | 86.5±1.2* |
| TLC | ||
| L | 5.0±0.1 | 5.7±0.1* |
| % | 92.1±0.9 | 93.6±1.2 |
| Per cent increase # | 13.9±0.8 | 12.5±0.9 |
| Pa,O2 mmHg ¶ | 78.1±1.1 | 70.9±0.7* |
| Pa,CO2 mmHg+ | 38.8±0.6 | 41.1±0.4* |
Data are presented as mean±sd
BMI: body mass index
VAS: visual analogue scale
PEFR: peak expiratory flow rate
FEV1: forced expiratory volume in one second
VC: vital capacity
TLC: total lung capacity
Pa,O2: oxygen tension in arterial bood
Pa,CO2: carbon dioxide tension in arterial blood
#: Data are % increase in FEV1 from baseline after inhalation of bronchodilators
¶: n=45
+: n=112
*: p<0.0001 for the comparison between asthma and chronic obstructive pulmorary disease patients (COPD)