Inhaler classes and lung function
| Inhaler classes used | n | FEV1
L (SD) | FEV1
% pred. (SD) | n | Reversibility % (SD) | n | ΔFEV1 mL/year (SD) |
| 0 | 95 | 2.31 (0.68) | 84 (22.6) | 30 | 2.0 (5.6) | 60 | −50 (110) |
| 1 | 23 | 2.32 (0.80) | 85 (27.4) | 9 | 10.8 (6.1) | 14 | −20 (100) |
| 2 | 30 | 1.74 (0.64) | 64 (21.5) | 22 | 11.7 (11.7) | 14 | −84 (140) |
| 3 | 37 | 1.72 (0.66) | 66 (26.1) | 21 | 13.3 (6.5) | 20 | −125 (177) |
| 4 | 28 | 1.29 (0.62) | 49 (17.9) | 13 | 16.3 (13.1) | 12 | −189 (480) |
| BD no ICS | 62 | 1.94 (0.71) | 71 (24.6) | 40 | 12.4 (9.4) | 37 | −96 (160) |
| BD plus ICS | 45 | 1.56 (0.81) | 58 (25.9) | 25 | 13.8 (11.0) | 23 | −120 (351) |
Inhaler class: number of separate classes of inhaled therapy used from SABA, LABA, LAMA, ICS. BD no ICS: any combination of SABA, LABA, LAMA. BD plus ICS: ICS and any combination of SABA, LABA, LAMA. Reversibility: percentage change in FEV1 following the administration of salbutamol.
BD, bronchodilators ; ΔFEV1, regression slope of FEV1; FEV1% pred, percentage of predicted FEV1 value; ICS, inhaled corticosteroid; LABA, long-acting beta agonist; LAMA, long-acting muscarinic antagonist; SABA, short-acting beta agonist.