Age (years) | 42.6 (1.8) | 43.2 (2.2) | 42.0 (2.8) | NS |
Female (%) | 49 (67%) | 21 (62%) | 28 (72%) | NS |
Age of asthma diagnosis (years) | 22.0 (2.1) | 19.9 (3.0) | 23.9 (3.0) | NS |
Period of instability (months) | 53.9 (8.0) | 75.1 (14.9) | 35.5 (6.5) | p<0.05 |
Asthma duration (years) | 20.6 (1.8) | 23.4 (2.6) | 18.1 (2.4) | NS |
Smoker | | | | |
Current | 12 | 6 | 6 | NS |
Ever | 13 | 6 | 7 | NS |
Atopy (%) | 40 (55%) | 21 (62%) | 19 (49%) | NS |
Inhaled steroid at referral (μg BDP equivalent)* | 2347 (148) | 2941 (206) | 1828 (173) | p<0.001 |
Rescue steroid courses in preceding 12 months | 4.3 (0.4) | 5.3 (0.7) | 3.7 (0.4) | p<0.05 |
Maintenance systemic steroid | 21 | 16 | 5 | p<0.01 |
Hospital admission in preceding 12 months | 0.85 (0.2) | 1.0 (0.33) | 0.7 (0.2) | NS |
Unscheduled visits in preceding 12 months† | 5.3 (1.2) | 4.8 (0.9) | 5.7 (2.2) | NS |
Previous specialist attendance | 43 | 26 | 17 | p<0.01 |
Pre-bronchodilator FEV1 (l) | 2.1 (0.10) | 1.90 (0.14) | 2.27 (0.15) | NS |
Pre-bronchodilator FEV1% | 72 (3) | 65 (2) | 79 (2) | p<0.05 |
FVC% | 83 (5) | 74 (5) | 91 (7) | NS |
FEV1/FVC ratio% | 69 (2) | 65 (2) | 72 (2) | p<0.05 |
RV (%) | 127 (5) | 135 (8) | 119 (8) | NS |
TLC (%) | 108 (2) | 108 (3) | 109 (3) | NS |
Tlco (%) | 92 (2) | 90 (4) | 95 (3) | NS |