Multiple regression analyses: effects of ICS treatment in smokers and ex-smokers, and the interaction between ICS treatment and smoking (smoking×ICS) on changes in lung function, hyperresponsiveness and inflammatory cells in biopsies and sputum.^*

*Patients were selected from the GLUCOLD cohort [8]; only persistent smokers and ex-smokers were included. All analyses are adjusted for age and sex. Data are expressed as B, p (regression coefficient, p-value); significant data (p<0.05) are presented in bold; FEV1, post, L = FEV1 after salbutamol expressed in liters; PC20 = provocative concentration of metacholine causing a fall in FEV1 of >20%; ‡Cell counts/10−7 per m2 of subepithelium; §Cell counts×104 per mL. The absolute changes in bronchial cell counts and sputum cell counts were normalized by Ln-transformation.