Table 1

Mean (SD) baseline data for control and active groups.

Control groupActive group
Participants, n3536
Age, years40.3 (12.3)40.3 (12.8)
Sex, male/female15/2017/19
Duration of asthma, years22.6 (14)23.1 (12)
Daily dose of ICS prescribed, μga,b565 (254)611 (222)
Daily dose of ICS used, μgb,c272 (185)283 (152)
Adherence with ICS, %b45.4 (16.6)45.6 (17)
Prednisolone courses, nb1.17 (1)1.0 (0.9)
Canisters of short-acting β2-agonist, nb10.2 (5.3)12.4 (4.9)
FEV1, litres2.65 (0.82)2.9 (0.84)
FEV1 % predicted82.3 (18.7)88.1 (19.3)
GP visits for asthma, nb2.4 (1.4)1.4 (1.1)
Mini AQLQ score4.7 (0.9)4.9 (1.1)
ACQ score2.11 (0.9)1.82 (0.8)
Smokers (previous or current), n1515
Pack-years among smokers9.5 (7)6.7 (5)

  • ICS = inhaled corticosteroid.

  • ↵a Dose of ICS equivalent to beclometasone delivered by a metered dose inhaler.

  • ↵b Over the year prior to the study.

  • ↵c Estimated dose of ICS taken from number of prescriptions collected.