Table 3

Mean (SD) peak expiratory flow (PEF), β agonist usage, and symptom scores at end of study

HDS Mean difference (95% CI) LDT Mean difference (95% CI) LDS Mean difference (95% CI) p value3-160
Morning PEF (l/min)415–19.5 (–33.4 to –5.6)3-150p=0.007450 –21.8 (–37.0 to –6.6)3-150 p=0.006393 –4.4 (–15.5 to 6.8)0.14
Evening PEF (l/min)432–8.3 (–21.5 to 4.6)469–22.5 (–36.5 to –8.6)3-150 p=0.002418–1.9 (–13.1 to 9.3)0.077
Diurnal variation (%)6.4 2.8 (1.6 to 4.0) 7.11.6 (0.17 to 3.0) 7.8 2.8 (1.4 to 4.3)0.37
β2 agonist use2.00.3 (–0.05 to 0.60)1.7 0.16 (–0.27 to 0.80)2.2 0.1 (–0.22 to 0.42)0.77
Daytime symptoms1.2 0.3 (0.09 to 0.58)1.10.4 (0.15 to 0.74)1.1 0.5 (0.26 to 0.67) 0.66
Night time symptoms0.80.2 (–0.08 to 0.39) 0.9 0.2 (–0.17 to 0.51)0.8 0.09 (–0.14 to 0.32)0.91

  • HDS = high dose steroid; LDT = low dose theophylline + low dose steroid; LDS = low dose steroid.

  • ↵3-150 Indicates within treatment statistical significance.

  • ↵3-160 Analysis of variance (ANOVA) comparison between treatments.

  • Changes are between end of run in period and end of study.