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Table 2 Outcome measures for matched groups 1 year following date of first ICS prescription

From: Effectiveness of initiating extrafine-particle versus fine-particle inhaled corticosteroids as asthma therapy in the Netherlands

Outcome Extrafine-particle ICSa (n = 1399) Fine-particle ICSb (n = 1399) p-value
Asthma control    
Risk-domain asthma control, n (%) 1236 (88) 1129 (81) <0.001
Overall asthma control, n (%) 1091 (78) 934 (67) <0.001
Severe exacerbations, n (%)    
  0, n (%) 1236 (88) 1129 (81) <0.001
  1, n (%) 108 (8) 184 (13)
  2+, n (%) 55 (4) 86 (6)
Treatment stability, n (%) 809 (58) 560 (40) <0.001
Prescribed average daily dose of SABA, μg/d, n (%)    
  0 μg/d, n (%) 686 (49) 461 (33) <0.001
  1–100 μg/d, n (%) 326 (23) 343 (25)
  101 μg/d+, n (%) 387 (28) 595 (43)
1+ prescriptions of antifungal for candidiasis, n (%) 48 (3) 45 (3) 0.753
1+ asthma-related hospital admissions, n (%) 19 (1) 16 (1) 0.613
Respiratory medications in outcome period    
Courses of acute oral corticosteroids, n (%)    
  0, n (%) 1246 (89) 1135 (81) <0.001
  1, n (%) 102 (7) 182 (13)
  2+, n (%) 51 (5) 82 (6)
SABA prescriptions, n (%)    
  0, n (%) 686 (49) 461 (33) <0.001
  1, n (%) 245 (18) 235 (17)
  2, n (%) 180 (13) 218 (16)
  3+, n (%) 288 (21) 485 (35)
ICS prescriptions (including initial prescription)    
  2, n (%) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0.022
  3, n (%) 462 (33) 520 (37)
  4+, n (%) 937 (67) 879 (63)
Average ICS daily dose (μg/d, fluticasone-equivalentsc)    
  0–150 μg/d, n (%) 460 (33) 263 (19) <0.001
  151–250 μg/d, n (%) 484 (35) 416 (30)
  251–450 μg/d, n (%) 358 (26) 401 (29)
  451 μg/d+, n (%) 97 (7) 319 (23)
Average ICS daily dose (μg/d, EF-HFA-BDP/ciclesonide equivalent dosed), median (IQR) 185 (132–290) 272 (178–410) <0.001
Average ICS daily dose (μg/d, EF-HFA-BDP/ciclesonide equivalent dosed)    
  0–150 μg/d, n (%) 460 (33) 263 (19) <0.001
  151–250 μg/d, n (%) 484 (35) 416 (30)
  251–450 μg/d, n (%) 358 (26) 401 (29)
  451 μg/d+, n (%) 97 (7) 319 (23)
LABA prescriptions in outcome period 770 (55) 875 (63) <0.001
LTRA prescriptions in outcome period 83 (6) 47 (3) 0.001
  1. GERD gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, ICS inhaled corticosteroid, LABA long-acting β2-agonist, LTRA leukotriene receptor antagonist, N/A not applicable, SABA short-acting β2-agonist
  2. a Extrafine-particle ICS: ciclesonide (Alvesco®); hydrofluoroalkane beclomethasone dipropionate (EF-HFA-BDP [Qvar®])
  3. b Fine-particle ICS: non-extrafine-particle beclomethasone dipropionate (Non-EF-BDP); fluticasone propionate (FP)
  4. c Fluticasone-equivalent dose for fine-particle ICS (FP and Non-EF-BDP) delivered via a pressurized-metered dose inhaler
  5. d EF-HFA-BDP/ciclesonide equivalent dose for extrafine-particle ICS delivered via a pressurized-metered dose inhaler
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BMC Pulmonary Medicine

ISSN: 1471-2466

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