Table 1.
Demographic and clinical characteristics of study sample at baseline
| Fluticasone propionate-salmeterol (n = 2231) | ICS + montelukast (n = 770) | Total (n = 3001) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demographics | ||||||
| Age, year, mean (SD) | 8.7a | (1.9) | 6.2 | (2.1) | 8.0 | (2.2) |
| Female (n, %) | 871 | 39.0% | 301 | 39.1% | 1172 | 39.1% |
| Comorbidity | ||||||
| Charlson index in pre-index period (mean, SD) | 1.1 | (0.6) | 1.2 | (0.8) | 1.1 | (0.7) |
| Concomitant AR | 991 | 44.4% | 368 | 47.8% | 1359 | 45.3% |
| Number of classes of AR medicationsb (mean, SD) | 1.1 | (0.9) | 1.1 | (0.9) | 1.1 | (0.9) |
| Asthma severity in pre-index period | ||||||
| Presence of SABA use, n (%) | 1330 | 59.6% | 487 | 63.3% | 1817 | 60.6% |
| Number of SABA canisters, mean (SD) | 1.4 | (1.7) | 0.7 | (1.1) | 1.3 | (1.6) |
| Presence of OCS use, n (%) | 482a | 21.6% | 312 | 40.5% | 794 | 26.5% |
| Number of OCS prescriptions, mean (SD) | 1.5 | (0.9) | 1.7 | (1.1) | 1.6 | (1.0) |
| Presence of ICS use, n (%) | 120a | 5.4% | 115 | 14.9% | 235 | 7.8% |
| Number of ICS canisters, mean (SD) | 2.1 | (1.8) | 2.7 | (2.3) | 2.4 | (2.1) |
| Patients with respiratory-related hospitalization or ED, n (%) | 266a | 11.9% | 174 | 22.6% | 440 | 14.7% |
| Number of hospitalizations/ED visits for respiratory-related conditions, mean (SD) | 0.2 | (0.5) | 0.3 | (0.7) | 0.2 | (0.5) |
| Total medical costs for respiratory-related conditions, mean (SD) | $992a | ($4291) | $1785 | ($4919) | $1196 | ($4473) |
| Pharmacy costs for asthma medications, mean (SD) | $90a | ($186) | $194 | ($418) | $117 | ($269) |
Notes:
a
P < 0.05 when compared with ICS + montelukast; based on Chi-square test or t-test;
b
mean computed among those with a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis.
Abbreviations: AR, allergic rhinitis; ED, emergency department; ICS, inhaled corticosteroid; OCS, oral corticosteroid; SABA, short-acting beta agonist; SD, standard deviation.