Table 1.
Use of conventional asthma medication
| Medications (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification Index) |
Prestudy year |
Months 0–12 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Patients |
Total days |
Patients |
Total days | |||
| N | % | N | % | |||
| Any asthma medication | 38 | 72% | 12,215 | 31 | 58% | 11,278 |
| • H02 Corticosteroids for systemic use | 5 | 9% | 457 | 2 | 4% | 8 |
| • J01 Antibacterials for systemic use | 7 | 13% | 344 | 4 | 8% | 48 |
| • R03A Adrenergics, inhalants | 25 | 47% | 4,322 | 28 | 53% | 4,762 |
| • R03BA Glucocorticoids | 12 | 23% | 3,214 | 16 | 30% | 4,012 |
| • R03BB Anticholinergics | 0 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 2% | 120 |
| • R03BC Antiallergic agents | 7 | 13% | 1,019 | 5 | 9% | 640 |
| • R03C Adrenergics for systemic use | 1 | 2% | 90 | 0 | 0% | 0 |
| • R03D Other systemic drugs for obstructive airway diseases | 10 | 19% | 2,278 | 10 | 19% | 2,204 |
| • R06 Antihistamines for systemic use | 7 | 13% | 491 | 7 | 13% | 220 |
| • Other: J04, J07A, L03, R03BX | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 |
| No asthma medication | 15 | 28% | 0 | 22 | 42% | 0 |
| Total (evaluable patients) | 53 | 100% | 53 | 100% | ||
Notes: Evaluable patients: patients with evaluable data on medication use at baseline and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up.