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. 2021 Oct 19;71(713):e948–e957. doi: 10.3399/BJGP.2020.1042

Table 1.

Participant characteristics in the derivation (n = 58 619) and validation (n = 174 240) datasetsa

Characteristic Derivation dataset, n (%)b Validation dataset, n (%)b
Sex
  Male 19 684 (33.58) 78 437 (45.02)
  Female 38 935 (66.42) 95 803 (54.98)

Age, years, mean (SD) 49.70 (16.86) 44.47 (22.57)

Outcome, derivation data: HES hospital admissions for asthma
  ≥1 admission 969 (1.65)
  No admissions 57 650 (98.35)

Outcome, validation data: asthma-related crisis event: hospital admission, A&E attendance, or death
  Hospital admission 1434 (0.82)
  A&E attendance 75 (0.04)
  Death 1235 (0.7)
  ≥1 asthma events 2439 (1.40)c
  No asthma events 171 801 (98.60)

Age group, years
  12– 60 40 809 (69.62) 125 802 (72.20)
  61–80 17 810 (30.38) 48 438 (27.80)

Smoking status
  Current smoker 10 498 (17.91) 33 880 (19.44)
  Ex-smoker 15 564 (26.55)d 70 544 (40.49)e

BMI
  Underweight:<18.5 kg/m2 1332 (2.27) 5160 (2.96)
  Normal: 18.5–<25 kg/m2 18 403 (31.39) 82 221 (47.19)
  Overweight: 25–<30 kg/m2 19 182 (32.72) 42 725 (24.52)
  Obese: ≥30 kg/m2 19 702 (36.61) 44 134 (25.33)

Count of blood eosinophils at baseline
  ≤400 µl 49 172 (83.88) 155 922 (89.49)
  >400 µl 9447 (16.12) 18 318 (10.51)

IHD 3549 (6.05) 11 120 (6.30)

1 LTRA prescriptions 2871 (4.90) 11 258 (6.46)

Diabetes diagnosis and/or therapy 15 210 (25.95) 12 895 (7.40)

Paracetamol 18 482 (31.53) 28 018 (16.08)
Rhinitis diagnosis and/or drugs in baseline 27 845 (47.50) 27 127 (15.57)

Number of courses of acute oral steroids
  1 6444 (10.99) 17 390 (9.98)
  2 2272 (3.88) 7083 (4.07)
  ≥3 2754 (4.70) 9056 (5.20)

Previous hospitalisations
  ≥1 959 (1.64) 1057 (0.61)

GP consultations for LRTI
  1 7346 (12.53) 20 764 (11.92)
  ≥2 2550 (4.35)f 6990 (4.01)g

Number of SABA prescriptions
  0–2 30 368 (51.81) 73 688 (42.29)
  3–6 17 912 (30.56) 51 725 (29.69)
  7–12 7945 (13.55) 33 235 (19.07)
  ≥13 2394 (4.08) 15 592 (8.95)

Anxiety and/or depression 24 222 (41.32) 39 664 (22.76)

History of anaphylaxis 360 (0.61) 850 (0.49)

GINA management steps, regrouped
  No therapy 5180 (8.84) 519 (0.30)
  Step 1–2 31 923 (54.46) 73 470 (42.17)
  Step 3 7990 (13.63) 85 645 (49.15)
  Step 4–5 13 526 (23.07) 14 606 (8.38)
a

This table contains frequencies of each variable for those individuals for whom all variables included in the algorithm were available.

b

Unless otherwise stated.

c

Individuals can have1 event, so the total is less than the sum of the individual occurrences.

d

Missing 32 557 were non-smokers.

e

Missing 69 816 were non-smokers.

f

The remaining 48 723 are ‘none’.

g

The remaining 146 486 are ‘none’. A&E = accident and emergency. BMI = body mass index. GINA = Global Initiative for Asthma. HES = Hospital Episode Statistics. IHD = ischaemic heart disease. LRTA = leukotriene receptor antagonist. LTRI = lower respiratory tract infection. SABA = short-acting beta-agonist. SD = standard deviation.