Table 1.
Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics
| Characteristic | Formoterol (n = 57) | Budesonide/formoterol (n = 58) |
| Male/female, n | 20/37 | 22/36 |
| Age, years (range) | 43.9 (12–72) | 45.9 (13–78) |
| Race, n (%) | ||
| Caucasian | 39 (68) | 37 (64) |
| Black | 0 | 1 (2) |
| Other | 18 (32) | 20 (34) |
| Asthma duration, years (range) | 20 (1–65) | 22.5 (0–54) |
| Acute severe asthma exacerbations in the 12 months before study entry | ||
| Number (%) of patients with event | 56 (98) | 54 (93) |
| Mean number of events (range) | 6.3 (1–30) | 6.4 (1–40) |
| Duration of current asthma exacerbation, n | ||
| <6 hours | 2 | 2 |
| 6–12 hours | 4 | 1 |
| 12–24 hours | 4 | 11 |
| >24 hours | 47 | 43 |
| FEV1, L (range) | 1.15 (0.7–2.0) | 1.12 (0.6–1.9) |
| FEV1, % of predicted normal (range) | 41 (30–55) | 40 (26–55) |
| Reversibility, % of predicted normal (range) | 2.4 (-8 to +8) | 2.1 (-7 to +8) |
| Reversibility, % of baseline (range) | 5.8 (-18 to +23) | 5.5 (-16 to +20) |
| Number (%) of patients prescribed long-acting β2-agonist at entry | 4 (7) | 6 (10) |
| Number (%) of patients prescribed ICS at entrya | 16 (28) | 17 (29) |
| ICS at entry, μg (range) | 768 (160–2560) | 624 (100–2400) |
All values are presented as absolute numbers or as means, except asthma duration, for which the median is given. aDose of inhaled corticosteroid (budesonide equivalents) in patients receiving inhaled corticosteroid. FEV1 = forced expiratory volume in 1 second; ICS = inhaled corticosteroids.