Table 1 The demographic characteristics of asthmatics and controls

Age (years)^b

51.44 ± 14.13

50.42 ± 11.84

0.522

Sex

Male

289 (46.0%)

289 (46.0%)

1.000

Female

339 (54.0%)

339 (54.0%)

Height (cm)^b

162.15 ± 8.33

161.82 ± 8.28

0.481

Weight (kg)^b

66.56 ± 12.47

63.04 ± 11.86

<0.001

BMI (kg/m²)^ab

25.27 ± 4.07

23.95 ± 3.40

<0.001

WC (cm)^ab

86.93 ± 11.18

78.58 ± 9.51

<0.001

Hips (cm)^b

99.33 ± 8.88

95.74 ± 6.62

<0.001

WHR^ab

0.88 ± 0.08

0.82 ± 0.08

<0.001

IgE (IU/mL)^b

262.04 ± 584.65

128.07 ± 291.48

<0.001^c

YKL-40 (ng/mL)^b

112.84 ± 111.56

95.65 ± 101.46

0.005^c

Lung function^b

FEV1%, pred

81.75 ± 21.53

92.17 ± 16.41

<0.001

FVC%, pred

85.75 ± 21.31

97.36 ± 17.05

<0.001

FEV1/FVC ratio

0.96 ± 0.15

0.95 ± 0.12

0.843

Smokers

Current

69 (11.1%)

82 (13.1%)

<0.001

Past

99 (15.9%)

44 (7.0%)

Never

456 (73.1%)

502 (79.9%)

Drinking habits

Current

72 (11.5%)

60 (9.7%)

0.012

Past

38 (6.1%)

18 (2.9%)

Never

515 (82.4%)

541 (87.4%)

Indoor environmental factors

Pets (dogs, cats, birds)

190 (30.4%)

103 (21.5%)

0.001

Appearance of cockroaches

491 (%)

(%)

Air cleaner

102 (16.3%)

66 (13.8%)

0.245

Dehumidifiers

140 (22.5%)

111(23.4%)

0.737

Carpet

26 (4.2%)

18 (3.8%)

0.752

Mold in walls

108(17.3%)

98(20.6%)

0.171

Indoor incense burning

402 (64.5%)

215 (45.2%)

<0.001

Asthma history for father, yes

69 (11.2%)

23 (4.6%)

<0.001

Asthma history for mother, yes

51 (8.2%)

17 (3.4%)

<0.001