Clinical characteristics of participants with bronchiectasis, asthma, COPD and healthy controls
| Bronchiectasis | COPD | Asthma | Healthy | P value | |
| n | 19 | 20 | 39 | 20 | |
| Age | 67.8 (7.1) | 68.8 (10.2) | 64.8 (7.3) | 61.3 (9.7) | 0.024 |
| Males, n (%) | 7 (36.8) | 14 (70.0) | 18 (46.2) | 9 (45.0) | 0.184 |
| Ex-smoker, n (%) | 0 (0.0) | 20 (100.0)*† | 15 (38.5)†‡ | 2 (10.0) | <0.001 |
| Smoking (pack-years) | – | 35.0 (20.0–55.0) | 10.0 (4.0–30.0)‡ | (5.0, 5.0) | 0.007 |
| FEV1% predicted | 91.9 (18.3)‡ | 57.4 (16.9)* | 72.3 (20.1)*† | 98.6 (12.1), n=19 | <0.001 |
| FEV1/FVC (%) | 73.0 (67.0–78.0)‡ | 59.5 (39.0–65.0) | 66.0 (59.0–72.0)*‡ | 75.0 (72.0–80.0)‡, n=19 | <0.001 |
| Taking ICS, n (%) | 0 (0.0) | 8 (40.0) | 37 (94.9)‡ | 0 (0.0) | <0.001 |
| BDP equivalent ICS dose (µg/day) | – | 1700.00 (555.49) | 978.37 (398.70)‡ | – | <0.001 |
| Bacterial pathogen, n (%) | 8 (42.1)* | 8 (40.0)* | 12 (30.8)* | 0 (0) | 0.003 |
| Bronchiectasis severity index | 4 (2.0–7.0), n=18 | – | – | – | – |
| GINA stages of asthma severity, n (%) | |||||
| Intermittent | 1 (2.6) | ||||
| Mild persistent | 6 (15.8) | ||||
| Moderate persistent | 9 (23.7) | ||||
| Severe persistent | 22 (56.4) | ||||
| GOLD stages of COPD severity, n (%) | |||||
| GOLD stage 1 (mild) | 2 (10.0) | ||||
| GOLD stage 2 (moderate) | 11 (55.0) | ||||
| GOLD stage 3 (severe) | 6 (30.0) | ||||
| GOLD stage 4 (very severe) | 1 (5.0) |
Data are presented as mean±SD or median (IQR; Q1–Q3) unless otherwise stated.
BDP equivalent ICS dose is calculated as beclomethasone dipropionate equivalent, where 1 µg of beclomethasone=1 µg budesonide=0.5 µg fluticasone.
*P<0.0125 compared with healthy controls.
†P<0.0125 compared with bronchiectasis.
‡P<0.0125 compared with COPD.
COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; FEV1, force expiratory volume in 1 s; FVC, forced vital capacity; GINA, Global Initiative for Asthma; GOLD, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease; ICS, inhaled corticosteroid.