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Table 1 Characteristics of the study population developing new onset asthma (N = 152) in relation to smoking status at baseline and during follow-up

From: Greater severity of new onset asthma in allergic subjects who smoke: a 10-year longitudinal study

Characteristics of the study population at baseline

Variables

Never Smokers N = 61

Former Smokers N = 17

Current Smokers N = 74

Age, mean yr (±SD)

28.5 (6.4)

28.6 (7.2)

30.7 (5.4)

Sex

   

   Female

52.5%

47.1%

60.8%

   Male

47.5%

52.9%

39.2%

Exposure to passive smoking

65.6%

70.6%

62.2%

Family Hx of atopy

75.4%

70.6%

67.6%

Duration of rhinitis, mean yr (±SD)

8.4 (5.1)

10.2 (7.9)

9.0 (5.8)

FEV1 (%predicted), mean (±SD)

96.8 (11.1)

102.5 (18.4)

99.0 (10.2)

Sensitizations

   

   +ve skin test to Parietaria

63.2%

59.0%

65.9%

   +ve skin test to HDM

34.5%

37.1%

33.0%

   +ve skin test to Olea

27.5%

24.9%

25.5%

   +ve skin test to Grass pollen

22.0%

25.8%

24.7%

   +ve skin test to Cat

8.5%

7.7%

9.0%

Drugs for rhinitis symptoms

   

   Oral antihistamines

58.3%

54.8%

54.0%

   Topical decongestants

37.0%

35.9%

33.3%

   Nasal steroids (<6 wks/yr)

20.5%

17.0%

19.2%

Characteristics of the study population during follow-up

Drugs for asthma symptoms

   

   SABA

85.2%

81.9%

87.5%

   ICS

27.6%

30.1%

35.8%

   Others

15.3%

17.2%

18.8%

Asthma symptoms/day

   

   Weekly basis or less

76.2%

71.7%

47.8%

   Daily/continous

23.8%

28.3%

52.2%

Asthma symptoms/night

   

   Monthly basis or less

85.1%

81.5%

62.2%

   Weekly/frequent

14.9%

18.5%

37.8%

SABA to treat symptoms

   

   ≤ 2 days/wk

69.4%

58.0%

26.1%

   > 2 days/wk

21.4%

31.1%

51.4%

   Daily use

9.2%

10.9%

22.5%

Exacerbations (in the past yr)

   

   0-1/yr)

76.3%

70.8%

56.5%

   ≥ 2/yr

23.7%

29.2%

43.5%

Asthma Severity (N = 152)

   

   GINA Step I

50.0%

12.5%

37.5%

   GINA Step II

38.9%

11.1%

50.0%

   GINA Step III

31.7%

9.8%

58.5%

   GINA Step IV

18.2%

9.1%

72.7%

Asthma Control (N = 140)

   

   Controlled

58.6%

14.3%

27.1%

   Partly controlled

23.1%

7.7%

69.2%

   Uncontrolled

16.7%

11.1%

72.2%

  1. HDM, house dust mite; SABA, short acting β2 agonists, ICS, inhaled corticosteroids