Table 5.
Positive predictive value (PPV) and sensitivity for true asthma of different drug regimens
| Prescription regimen in 2010 | Number of Children in Total with Specified Prescribed Treatment | Number of Children with Confirmed Asthma | PPV with 95% CI | Sensitivity with 95% CI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ≥ 1 prescription for any R03 druga | 1990 | 1319 | 66.3 (64.2;68.3) | 96.6 (95.5;97.5) |
| ≥ 2 prescriptions for any R03 drug | 1295 | 1017 | 78.5 (76.2;80.7) | 74.5 (72.1;76.7) |
| ≥ 2 prescriptions for two different R03 drugs | 1005 | 806 | 80.2 (77.6;82.5) | 59.0 (56.4;61.6) |
| ≥ 1 prescription for ICSb | 1001 | 794 | 79.3 (76.7;81.7) | 58.2 (55.5;60.8) |
| ≥ 2 prescriptions for ICS | 596 | 511 | 85.7 (82.7;88.3) | 37.4 (34.9;40.0) |
| ≥ 3 prescriptions for ICS | 384 | 348 | 90.6 (87.3;93.2) | 25.5 (23.3;27.9) |
| ≥ 1 prescription for inhaled Beta2c | 1597 | 1040 | 65.1 (62.8;67.4) | 76.2 (73.9;78.4) |
| ≥ 2 prescriptions for inhaled Beta2 | 648 | 505 | 77.9 (74.6;81.0) | 37.0 (34.5;39.6) |
| ≥ 3 prescriptions for inhaled Beta2 | 317 | 274 | 86.4 (82.2;89.8) | 20.1 (18.0;22.3) |
| ≥ 1 prescription for montelukastd | 588 | 459 | 78.1 (74.5;81.2) | 33.6 (31.2;36.2) |
| ≥ 2 prescriptions for montelukast | 390 | 330 | 84.6 (80.7;87.9) | 24.2 (22.0;26.5) |
| ≥ 3 prescriptions for montelukast | 282 | 245 | 86.9 (82.4;90.3) | 17.9 (16.0;20.1) |
| ≥ 1 prescription for LABAe | 96 | 94 | 97.9 (92.7;99.4) | 6.9 (5.7;8.4) |
| ≥ 2 prescriptions for LABA | 79 | 79 | 100.0 (95.4;100.0) | 5.8 (4.7;7.2) |
| ≥ 3 prescriptions for LABA | 66 | 66 | 100.0 (94.5;100.0) | 4.8 (3.8;6.1) |
a
ATC R03 drug: All inhaled anti‐asthmatic drugs.
b
Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS): ATC R03B.
c
Inhaled Beta2 agonists: ATC R03AC02, R03AC03, R03CC.
d
Montelukast (leukotrien antagonist): ATC R03DC.
e
LABA—long‐acting beta‐adrenoceptor agonist: ATC R03AC04, R03AC05, R03AC12, R03AC13, R03AC18, R03AK06, R03AK07, R03AK08, R03AK10, R03AK11.