Table 1 Characteristics of four European panels of asthmatic/COPD patients

Male /Female

6 / 30

19 / 16

10 / 26

7 / 22

 Asthma

3 / 28

6 / 13

3 / 8

6 / 21

 COPD

3 / 1

12 / 3

2 / 7

1 / 0

 Other^b

0 / 1

1 / 0

5 / 11

0 / 1

Age^c

63.5

[36–85]

62.2

[33–84]

63.3

[46–77]

60.1

[37–76]

 Asthma

62.9

[36–85]

55.7

[33–77]

62.8

[46–77]

59.6

[37–76]

 COPD

65.0

[57–74]

68.7

[45–84]

63.7

[59–72]

53.0

-

 Other^b

75.0

-

78.0

-

63.2

[46–77]

69.0

-

Asthma

31

(86%)

19

(54%)

11

(31%)

27

(93%)

COPD

4

(11%)

15

(43%)

9

(25%)

1

(3.5%)

Asthma + COPD

1

(3%)

1

(3%)

4

(11%)

1

(3.5%)

CNSLD^d

0

(0%)

0

(0%)

12

(33%)

0

(0%)

Smoking status

Never smoker

26

(72%)

15

(43%)

13

(36%)

15

(52%)

Current

0

(0%)

1

(3%)

0

(0%)

3

(10%)

Ex-smoker

10

(28%)

19

(54%)

23

(64%)

11

(48%)

ETS^e exposure at home

0

(0%)

5

(14.7%)

0

(0%)

1

(3.4%)

Medication use

Short acting β2-agonist

24

(67%)

9

(26%)

16

(44%)

28

(97%)

Reliever medication^f

29

(81%)

21

(62%)

25

(69%)

29

(100%)

Inhaled glucocorticosteroids

34

(94%)

28

(82%)

27

(75%)

24

(83%)

Oral glucocorticosteroids

5

(14%)

5

(15%)

6

(17%)

6

(21%)

On need medication use

Short acting β2-agonist

18

(50%)

8

(24%)

14

(39%)

28

(97%)

Reliever medication^f

22

(61%)

21

(62%)

18

(50%)

29

(100%)

Inhaled glucocorticosteroids

6

(17%)

18

(53%)

7

(19%)

5

(17%)

Oral glucocorticosteroids

3

(8%)

5

(15%)

4

(11%)

5

(17%)