Patient demographic and clinical characteristics before biologic initiation
| Clinical information | Total study population (n = 53) |
|---|---|
| Demographic variables | |
| Age, years | 60.0 (50.0–71.0) |
| Female, n (%) | 38 (71.7%) |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 25.2 (20.4–26.9) |
| Age at asthma onset, years | 42.0 (24.0–53.0) |
| Adult onset ≥ 18 years, n (%) | 44 (83.0%) |
| Duration of disease, years | 18.0 (7.0–30.0) |
| Duration of disease ≥ 10 years, n (%) | 36 (67.9%) |
| Smoking status | |
| Never smokers, n (%) | 36 (67.9%) |
| Previous smokers, n (%) | 15 (28.3%) |
| Current smokers, n (%) | 2 (3.8%) |
| Pack-years in previous and current smokers | 15.0 (2.5–39.3) |
| Indoor pet keeping, n (%) | 11 (20.8%) |
| History of comorbidities | |
| Allergic rhinitis, n (%) | 28 (52.8%) |
| Chronic rhinosinusitis, n (%) | 23 (43.4%) |
| Eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis, n (%) | 11 (20.8%) |
| Atopic dermatitis, n (%) | 1 (1.9%) |
| COPD, n (%) | 4 (7.5%) |
| Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), n (%) | 3 (5.7%) |
| Exacerbations in 12 months before Bx initiation | |
| 0, n (%) | 7 (13.2%) |
| 1, n (%) | 4 (7.5%) |
| ≥ 2, n (%) | 42 (79.2%) |
| Medication use in the year preceding Bx initiation | |
| Budesonide equivalent dose, mcg | 1,000 (800–1,440) |
| ICS/LABA, n (%) | 28 (52.8%) |
| ICS/LABA/LAMA, n (%) | 23 (43.4%) |
| ICS/LAMA, n (%) | 1 (1.9%) |
| mOCS, n (%) | 17 (32.1%) |
| mOCS, prednisolone equivalent dose, mg | 5.0 (3.5–9.5) |
| LTRA, n (%) | 37 (69.8%) |
| Theophylline, n (%) | 12 (22.6%) |
| Pre-Bx lung function | |
| FEV1, L | 1.73 (1.37–2.20) |
| FEV1, %predicted | 85.6 (62.9–94.9) |
| FVC, L | 2.51 (2.22–3.07) |
| FVC, %predicted | 96.1 (84.6–104.6) |
| FEV1/FVC | 0.69 (0.58–0.78) |
| PAL, n (%) | 27 (50.9%) |
| Type 2 inflammation markers | |
| Pre-Bx highest BEC, cells/μL | 590 (265–1,206) |
| Pre-Bx BEC < 100/μL, n (%) | 7 (13.2%) |
| Pre-Bx BEC ≥ 150/μL, n (%) | 42 (79.2%) |
| Pre-Bx BEC ≥ 300/μL, n (%) | 39 (73.6%) |
| Pre-Bx BEC ≥ 500/μL, n (%) | 30 (56.6%) |
| Pre-Bx latest serum IgE, IU/mL | 277 (70.8–755) |
| Positive SPT and/or positive specific IgE, n (%) | 35 (66.0%) |
| Pre-Bx highest FeNO, ppb | 53.0 (27.8–87.3) |
| FeNO ≥ 25 ppb, n (%) | 32 (60.4%) |
Data are presented as median (interquartile range), or n (%). BMI: body mass index; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Bx: biologics; ICS: inhaled corticosteroid; LABA: long-acting beta2 agonist; LAMA: long-acting muscarinic antagonist; mOCS: maintenance oral corticosteroid; LTRA: leukotriene receptor antagonist; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FEV1 %predicted: percent predicted FEV1; FVC: forced vital capacity; PAL: persistent airflow limitation; BEC: blood eosinophil count; FeNO: fractional exhaled nitric oxide; SPT: skin prick test; IgE: immunoglobulin E