Characteristics | Completed the study | Did not complete the study |
Subjects n | 20 | 13 |
Age yrs | 49±9 | 52±11 |
Male/female | 11/9 | 9/4 |
BMI kg·m-2 | 37±9 | 41±7 |
Smoker status | ||
Current smoker | 1 | 3 |
Ex-smoker | 11 | 6 |
Pack-yrs# | 22±19 | 36±26 |
GERD¶ | 6 | 2 |
Atopy | 15 | 10 |
AHI | 48±24 | 45±31 |
FEV1 % pred | 82±14 | 81±20 |
Maintenance therapy for asthma | None+ | None+ |
ICS§ | ICSƒ | |
ICS+LABA## | ICS+LABAƒ | |
LTRA+LABAƒ | ICS+theophyllineƒ | |
ICS+LABA+theophylline+prednisoneƒ | ICS+LABA+prednisoneƒ | |
Equivalent of fluticasone mg·day-1 among ICS users | 600±376 | 500±0 |
Data are presented as n and mean±sd, unless otherwise stated. BMI: body mass index; GERD: gastro-oesophageal reflux disease; AHI: apnoea/hypopnoea index; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in one second; % pred: % predicted; ICS: inhaled corticosteroids; LABA: long-acting β2-agonists; LTRA: leukotriene receptor antagonists. Among the 13 patients who did not complete the study, six were initially excluded because their PC20 had more than two dilution variations following the three serial methacholine inhalation challenges. #: among current and ex-smokers; ¶: symptoms and/or medication; +: n = 9; §: n = 3; ƒ: n = 1; ##: n = 6.