Table 4.

Disease status at baseline

Item	N	%
Asthma diagnosis definite	64/65	98%
Asthma diagnosis based on pulmonary function tests or examination by pulmonologist	60/65	92%
Associated diseases (ever had)
Allergic rhinitis	34/61	56%
Atopic dermatitis	21/59	36%
Other allergic disease	38/62	61%
Symptoms in past 12 months
Wheeze	51/61	84%
Dry cough at night	46/62	74%
Difficulty breathing	43/61	70%
Wheeze on exertion	47/61	77%
Seasonal asthma symptoms (yes)	44/62	71%
Frequency of asthma attacks in past 12 months
≤once per month	39/62	63%
≤once weekly	6/62	10%
≥several times weekly	17/62	27%
Awakening from asthma attacks at night
<1 night per week	39/62	63%
1–3 nights per week	10/62	16%
≥4 nights per week	13/62	21%
Emergency room or inpatient treatment for asthma in past 12 months	8/62	13%
CES-D ≥ 24 points = depressive range	12/52	23%

Notes: These items were documented in patients enrolled after March 2001 (n = 65). Asthma diagnosis documented by physicians, other items by patients or caregivers.

Abbreviations: CES-D, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, German version.⁷¹