Table 1 Characteristics of patients with asthma and healthy volunteers

Age (years)

45.0 ± 13.8

37.7 ± 13.5

0.002

Gender (male), n (%)

111 (40)

20 (50)

0.232

Allergy, n (%)

236 (84)

22 (55)

<0.001

FEV1 (L)

2.5 ± 0.9

3.8 ± 1.0

<0.001

FEV1 (% of pred.)

74.9 ± 23.4

103.6 ± 13.3

<0.001

Exhaled NO (ppb)

40.6 ± 41.5

19.6 ± 9.5

<0.001

ICS use, n (%)

202 (82)

-

-

OCS use, n (%)

75 (28)

-

-

Asthma severity, n (%)

-

 • Intermittent

• 18 (6.4)

 • Mild

• 54 (19.3)

 • Moderate

• 53 (18.9)

 • Severe

• 155 (55.4)

Asthma control, n (%)

-

 • Controlled

• 44 (15.7)

 • Partly controlled

• 92 (32.9)

 • Uncontrolled

• 144 (51.4)