Mean values of predictors per stratum per treatment.

#Index category is defined relative to median value, and represents the more favourable outcome by fluticasone. For example: decline of FEV1 by fluticasone is diminished (= favourable outcome) in patients with a lower number of packyears (= index category).⊥Reference category is complementary to the index category.Values are mean (standard deviation (SD)), unless stated otherwise.║PC20 methacholine is expressed as geometric mean (standard deviation in doubling dose (DD)),‡sputum cells as Geometric mean (GSD).Definition of abbreviations: postbr. = postbronchodilator; FEV1 = forced expiratory volume in one second; % pred = percentage of predicted value; PC20 methacholine = the provocative concentration of methacholine that causes a decrease in FEV1 of 20%; RV/TLC = residual volume/total lung capacity; TLCO = diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide.Mean values of predictors per stratum per treatment.