TABLE 5.

Use of drugs in the two treatment strategies

	Sputum strategy (n=19)	Clinical strategy (n=20)	P
SABA puffs	0 (0 to 1100)	165.3 (0 to 1430)	0.067
LABA dose (mg)	0 (0 to 52)	15.6 (0 to 61)	0.007
ICS dose* (mg)	294 (0 to 1965)	565.6 (159 to 1294)	0.109
Proportion of patients requiring prednisone, %	21	25	0.535
Prednisone tablets†	0 (0 to 360)	0 (0 to 135)	0.79
Antibiotic courses	1 (0 to 4)	1 (0 to 6)	0.905

All values are expressed as median (minimum to maximum).

^*Fluticasone is equivalent to 432 mg and 1004 mg of beclomethasone dipropionate in SS and CS, respectively, and budesonide is equivalent to 543.4 mg and 570.4 mg of beclomethasone dipropionate in the SS and CS, respectively;

^†A course included 30 mg prednisone for five days, followed by a reduction of 5 mg daily. CS Clinical strategy; ICS Inhaled corticosteroid; LABA Long-acting beta-agonist; SABA Short-acting beta-agonist; SS Sputum strategy