Table 3. Impact of ICSs on cumulative number of acute exacerbations per patient.

Period (months)	No ICSs			ICSs		Difference mean (95% CI)	P value
	N	Mean ± SD		N	Mean ± SD
0–6	73	0.40±0.66		15	0.73±0.70	−0.33 (−0.71, 0.04)	0.08
6–12	72	0.33±0.58		14	0.36±0.63	−0.03 (−0.37, 0.32)	0.89
0–12	72	0.72±1.01		14	1.00±0.78	−0.28 (−0.85, 0.29)	0.33

ICS, inhaled corticosteroids; SD, standard deviation; CI, confidence interval.