| Control group (n = 46) | Intervention group (n = 39) | |
| N (%) male | 18 (39) | 18 (46) |
| Mean (SD) age (years) | 49.3 (14.2) | 50.2 (14.0) |
| N (%) married/cohabiting | 36 (78) | 34 (87) |
| N (%) Employment status | ||
| N (%) full time | 20 (44) | 16 (41) |
| N (%) retired | 10 (22) | 11 (28) |
| Asthma impact factors: | ||
| Mean (SD) years since asthma diagnosed | 27 (17.7) | 23 (15.2) |
| Mean (SD) years since first prescribed reliever medication | 20 (13.6) | 17 (13.0) |
| N (%) ex-smokers | 14 (30) | 14 (36) |
| N (%) current smokers | 2 (4) | 6 (15) |
| Spirometry (% predicted) | (n = 42) | (n = 38) |
| Mean (SD) FEV1 (l) | 91.67 (18.43) | 87.24 (19.36) |
| N (%) FEV1 <80% predicted | 8 (17) | 6 (15) |
| Mean (SD) FVC (l) | 96.76 (13.58) | 90.55 (18.34) |
| Mean (SD) PEF (l/min) | 93.62 (21.31) | 89.53 (21.80) |
FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FVC, forced vital capacity; PEF, peak expiratory flow.