Table 2

Baseline data by area of residence

Suburban patientsInner city patients
Mean (SD)Median (IQR)Mean (SD)Median (IQR)
n40 unless stated74 unless stated
Male16 (40%)26 (35%)
Age45 (12)49 (33–54)42 (12)44 (32–52)
FEV1 (l)2.3 (0.8)2.3 (1.9–2.8) (n=36)2.2 (0.9)2.1 (1.4–2.7) (n=73)
Predicted FEV1 (l)3.0 (0.6)3.0 (2.4–3.4)3.0 (0.6)3.0 (2.6–3.4) (n=69)
PEF (l/min)363 (117)371 (305–426) (n=36)348 (131)342 (254–436) (n=73)
AQLQ total score5.1 (0.9)5.1 (4.7–5.8)4.5 (1.3)4.7 (3.5–5.7)
AQLQ symptom score5.2 (1.2)5.2 (4.6–6.2)4.4 (1.5)4.5 (3.1–5.4)
Q score2.2 (1.8)2 (1–3)3.0 (2.7)3 (1–5)
HAD anxiety6.2 (3.9)6 (3–8)9.5 (4.1)9 (7–13) (n=73)
HAD depression3.7 (2.7)3 (2–6)6.0 (4.3)5 (2–9) (n=73)
Still smoking4 (10%)27 (36%)
BTS guidelines treatment
 Step 1 9 (23%)12(16%)
 Step 2 17 (42%)42 (57%)
 Step 3 9 (23%)13 (8%)
 Step 4 3 (7%) 3 (4%)
 Step 5 2 (5%) 4 (5%)
  • IQR = interquartile range; FEV1 = forced expiratory volume in one second; PEF = peak expiratory flow; AQLQ = Asthma Quality of Life questionnaire; HAD = Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale.

  • BTS guidelines treatment step: step 1 = no β agonist or β agonist prn; step 2 = β agonist prn plus low dose steroids; step 3 β agonist prn plus high dose inhaled steroids or low dose inhaled steroids plus long acting β agonist; step 4 = high dose inhaled steroids and regular β agonist; step 5 = addition of regular steroid tablets.