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Table 1 Baseline characteristics

From: Influence of chronic azithromycin treatment on the composition of the oropharyngeal microbial community in patients with severe asthma

Characteristic

Placebo

N = 5

Azithromycin

N = 8

Sex (no. of subjects)

 Male

3 (60%)

3 (38%)

 Female

2 (40%)

5 (62%)

Age (yr)

 Median, Range, IQR

57 (41;64), (48;62)

48 (19;60), (40;52)

Race (no. of subjects; %)

 Caucasian

5 (100%)

8 (100%)

Body-mass index

 Mean (SD)

31.5 (5.5)

26.0 (5.9)

Positive atopic status

 (no. of subjects; %)*

3 (60%)

6 (75%)

Severe asthma exacerbations requiring treatment with systemic corticosteroids

  previous 12 months (% of subjects)

5 (100%)

6 (75%)

  previous 12 months (no. [mean], SD)

2.2 (0.4)

1.9 (1.5)

Lower respiratory tract infections requiring treatment with antibiotics

  previous 12 months (% of subjects)

4 (80%)

6 (75%)

  previous 12 months (no. [mean], SD)

1.0 (0.7)

2.8 (1.9)

FEV1 prebronchodilator (% of predicted)

 Mean (SD)

87.6 (19.1)

87.9 (19.0)

FEV1/FVC ratio prebronchodilator

 Mean (SD)

60.4 (12.1)

66.9 (9.4)

FENO (ppb)

 Median, Range, IQR

12.8, (8;26.7), (10;20.9)

30, (13;54), (20.3;37.5)

Eosinophil count in blood (x10-9/liter)

 Mean (SD)

494.0 (420.9)

161.3 (100.2)

Daily dose of inhaled corticosteroid (BDP-equivalent) (μg)

Daily dose

2000, (2000;3000),

2125, (1500;4000),

 Median, Range, IQR

(2000;2500)

(2000;3625)

Use of oral prednisolone

 Regular use (% of subjects)

1 (20%)

2 (25%)

Daily maintenance dose (mg)

 Median, Range, IQR

2.5, (−;-), (−;-)

8.8, (7.5;10), (−;-)

Use of montelukast (leukotriene receptor antagonsist) (no. of subjects; %)

2 (40%)

2 (25%)

  1. Legend: *Atopic status: based on skin prick tests; if skin prick test was not interpretable or not available, the atopic status is based on serum RAST for standard aero-allergens (house dust mite, animal dander [cat, dog], pollen [grass, tree] and Aspergillus fumigatus)
  2. Abbreviations: ACQ asthma control questionnaire, AQLQ asthma quality of life questionnaire, BDP beclomethasone dipropionate, IQR interquartile range, LRT lower respiratory tract