Table 2.
Asthma symptoms and medication usage before hospitalization in each cluster
| Variable, N = 190 | Cluster A (n = 80) | Cluster B (n = 76) | Cluster C (n = 34) | P‐value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma symptoms in the previous 3 mo | ||||
| Daytime symptoms, n (%) | ||||
| Absent | 18 (23) | 26 (35) | 10 (29) | .093 |
| Less than once a week | 34 (43) | 23 (31) | 7 (21) | |
| Once or more a week, not every day | 20 (25) | 17 (23) | 8 (24) | |
| Every day | 8 (10) | 9 (12) | 9 (27) | |
| Limitation of activities, n (%) | ||||
| Absent | 17 (22) | 26 (35) | 10 (29) | .151 |
| Mild and brief | 42 (53) | 31 (41) | 12 (35) | |
| Disturbs daily life or sleep ≥once a month | 5 (6) | 8 (11) | 2 (6) | |
| Disturbs daily life or sleep ≥once a week | 14 (18) | 7 (9) | 7 (21) | |
| Restricts daily life | 1 (1) | 3 (4) | 3 (9) | |
| Nocturnal symptoms/awakening, n (%) | ||||
| Absent | 39 (51) | 47 (63) | 20 (61) | .117 |
| Less than twice a month | 20 (26) | 11 (15) | 2 (6) | |
| Twice or more a month | 5 (7) | 6 (8) | 2 (6) | |
| Once or more a week | 7 (9) | 4 (5) | 2 (6) | |
| Frequently | 5 (7) | 7 (9) | 7 (21) | |
| Drug use in the previous month | ||||
| ICS, n (%) | ||||
| Do not use | 30 (38) | 25 (33) | 13 (38) | .047 |
| Less than once per week | 10 (13) | 3 (4) | 2 (6) | |
| Occasionally (1‐3 d per week) | 11 (14) | 3 (4) | 4 (12) | |
| Almost every day (≥4 d per week) | 29 (36) | 45 (59) | 15 (44) | |
| SABA, n (%) | ||||
| Do not use | 35 (44) | 38 (50) | 18 (53) | .197 |
| Less than once per week | 13 (16) | 15 (20) | 3 (9) | |
| Occasionally (1‐3 d per week) | 23 (29) | 12 (16) | 5 (15) | |
| Almost every day (≥4 d per week) | 9 (11) | 11 (15) | 8 (24) | |
| OCS regular usea, n (%) | 4 (5) | 9 (12) | 3 (9) | .272 |
| LTRA regular usea, n (%) | 20 (25) | 20 (26) | 13 (38) | .345 |
| LABA regular usea, n (%) | 26 (33) | 34 (45) | 15 (44) | .255 |
| Theophylline regular usea, n (%) | 9 (11) | 19 (26) | 4 (12) | .059 |
| SABA usage in the previous week, n (%) | ||||
| Do not use | 35 (44) | 38 (50) | 18 (53) | .399 |
| Less than once per week | 7 (9) | 4 (5) | 0 (0) | |
| Occasionally (1‐3 d per week) | 17 (21) | 16 (21) | 4 (12) | |
| Almost every day (≥4 d per week) | 21 (26) | 18 (24) | 12 (35) | |
ICS, inhaled corticosteroid; SABA, short‐acting beta‐agonist; OCS, oral corticosteroid; LTRA, leukotriene receptor antagonist; LABA, long‐acting beta‐agonist.
a
Patients who reported use of the drug almost every day (≥4 d per week).