Table 1 Characteristics of healthy subjects and patients with asthma

Age, years

41.4 ± 18

52.3 ± 12

0.002

Sex, % male

53

47

0.54

BMI, kg/m²

25.2 ± 3.8

27.6 ± 5.1

0.016

Smoking history %

0

23

0.005

Current smokers, %

0

9

 < 0.001

Severe asthma, %

–

48

–

FEV1, %

102

83.5

 < 0.001

FVC, %

110

105

0.67

FEV1/FVC, %

77.5

65.1

 < 0.001

Blood cell counts, 10³/µl

 Eosinophils

145 (90–182)

240 (140–450)

 < 0.001

 Neutrophils

2770 (2435–3452)

4210 (3370–5960)

 < 0.001

Sputum cell counts, %*

 Eosinophils

0.1 (0.0–0.30)

1.5 (0.4–7.0)

 < 0.001

 Neutrophils

25.5 (14–51)

53.3 (32–71)

0.008

 Macrophages

67.2 (44–81)

31 (15–53)

0.003