Table 2

Inflammatory cell count of participants with bronchiectasis, asthma, COPD and healthy controls

BronchiectasisCOPDAsthmaHealthyP  value*
Total cells (×106/mL)0.62 (0.19–1.74)†0.83 (0.16–1.88)†0.16 (0.09–0.34)‡§0.08 (0.05–0.21)<0.001
Viability (%)82.26 (75.00–91.67)†87.75 (73.60–92.95)†77.78 (62.30–88.00)72.22 (50.00–75.00)0.005
Neutrophils (%)67.50 (41.00–84.25)†77.25 (73.00–85.13)†58.00 (24.50–72.50)‡28.25 (14.75–63.50)<0.001
Neutrophils (×104/mL)43.20 (5.21–164.43)†60.35 (13.31–149.70)†8.24 (3.12–25.01)§‡3.18 (1.51–5.03)<0.001
Eosinophils (%)1.00 (0.50–6.50)3.75 (1.13–8.88)†2.25 (1.00–11.75)†1.00 (0.75–1.25)0.016
Eosinophils (×104/mL)0.75 (0.40–2.76)†1.89 (1.03–4.03)†0.63 (0.14–3.07)†0.09 (0.05–0.23)<0.001
Macrophages (%)18.75 (11.00–34.75)15.50 (8.50–20.03)†25.00 (9.25–39.25)29.25 (17.00–63.12)0.025
Macrophages (×104/mL)12.40 (5.94–24.42)†9.66 (2.91–18.24)4.24 (2.00–7.77)§2.10 (1.42–6.43)0.002
Lymphocytes (%)0.75 (0.00–1.50)0.38 (0.00–1.25)0.50 (0.00–1.50)1.5 (0.25–5.13)0.058
Lymphocytes 
(×104 cells/mL)		0.30 (0.00–1.02)0.18 (0.00–0.89)0.09 (0.00–0.37)0.18 (0.05–0.42)0.459
Columnar epithelial cells (%)1.75 (0.75–10.50)0.25 (0.00–2.50)†4.50 (1.50–10.75)‡9.50 (4.88–23.63)<0.001
Columnar epithelial cells (×104/mL)1.99 (0.48–2.67)‡0.28 (0.00–0.59)†1.00 (0.35–1.98)‡0.88 (0.38–2.38)<0.001

  • Data are presented as median (IQR; Q1–Q3) unless otherwise stated.

  • *Kruskal-Wallis test.

  • †P<0.0125 compared with healthy controls.

  • ‡P<0.0125 compared with COPD.

  • §P<0.0125 compared with bronchiectasis.

  • COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.