Table 1 Characteristics asthmatic patients’

Number of patients

51

45

Age (years)

39.82 ± 2

51.13 ± 2.1

p < 0.01

Female/male

27/24

31/14

Ns

Atopy (%)

43 (84 %)

37 (82 %)

Ns

Duration of asthma (years)

11.7 ± 1.4

21.7 ± 1.8

Ns

Aspirin hypersensitivity (%)

12 (24 %)

12 (27 %)

Ns

Nasal polyps

15 (29 %)

11 (24 %)

Ns

BMI

24.8 ± 0.58

27.60 ± 0.7

Ns

FEV₁ (% of predicted)

99.7 ± 2.06

69.8 ± 2.9

p < 0.05

FEV₁/FVC %

78.1 ± 1.4

61.4 ± 1.9

p < 0.001

MEF 25-75 (% of predicted)

83.9 ± 4

38.9 ± 2.8

p < 0.001

FEV₁ reversibility (%)

8.41 ± 0.99

21.7 ± 2

P < 0.001

Mean dose inhaled GCS (µg budesonide)

617 ± 35

2006 ± 42

p < 0.001

No of patients on oral GCS

0

26 (58 %)

p < 0.001

Mean dose of oral GCS (mg prednisone per day)

0

4.24 ± 0.7

p < 0.001

Mean number of exacerbation during 12 months

0.51 ± 0.08

1.5 ± 0.12

p < 0.001

Mean number of interventions of emergency service

0

0.18 ± 0.05

p < 0.001

Mean number of hospitalizations during last 12 months

0

0.17 ± 0.05

p < 0.001

ECP (µg/l)

9.59 ± 1.2

15.78 ± 2.6

p = 0.04

Total IgE (kU/l)

200 ± 33.9

348 ± 72.7

p = 0.03