Characteristics of study subjects
| Asthmatics | COPD | Controls | |
| Age yrs | 38.5 (24–67) | 74 (34–83) | 32 (25–50) |
| Sex F/M | 5/5 | 1/10 | 8/1 |
| Steroid treatment n | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| FEV1 L | 2.8 (0.9–4.7) | 1.5 (0.8–3.1)* | 3.2 (2.08–5.78) |
| FVC L | 3.9 (2.9–5.4) | 2.9 (1.5–4.2) | 3.55 (2.54–6.82) |
| FEV1 % pred | 93.5 (54–125) | 66.5 (45–82)* | 115 (90–136) |
| FVC % pred | 105 (89–115) | 86 (64–164) | 110 (93–134) |
Data are presented as median (range), unless otherwise stated. COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; F: female; M: male; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in one second; FVC: forced vital capacity. *: p<0.05 asthmatics versus COPD patients.