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

Table 2.

Adjusted estimated regression coefficients in algorithm derivation

Coefficient β-coefficient (SE) P-value
Constant −5.013

Factors considered for algorithm

Age group, years, reference group60 years
  61–80 0.192 (0.076) 0.01

BMI, kg/m2, reference group 18.5–<25 kg/m2
  Underweight: <18.5 kg/m2 0.597 (0.179) 0.001
  Overweight: 25– <30 kg/m2 −0.210 (0.087) 0.02
  Obese: ≥30 kg/m2 −0.103 (0.083) 0.21

Smoking status, reference group non-smoker
  Current smoker 0.251 (0.089) 0.005
  Ex-smoker 0.093 (0.078) 0.24

Blood eosinophil counts, reference group400/µl
  >400/µl 0.237 (0.084) 0.005

Rhinitis diagnosis and/or drugs −0.212 (0.068) 0.002

Diabetes diagnosis and/or therapy 0.378 (0.071) <0.001

IHD diagnosis 0.243 (0.116) 0.036

Anxiety and/or depression 0.192 (0.068) 0.005

History of anaphylaxis 0.790 (0.275) 0.004

GINA management step, reference group step 1–2
  No therapy 0.568 (0.121) <0.001
  Step 3 0.101 (0.108) 0.35
  Step 4–5 0.461 (0.078) <0.001

GP consultations for LRTIs
  1 0.313 (0.086) <0.001
  ≥2 0.206 (0.122) 0.09

Acute oral steroids
  1 0.551 (0.095) <0.001
  2 0.975 (0.120) <0.001
  ≥3 1.141 (0.107) <0.001

Paracetamol 0.204 (0.071) 0.004

Hospitalisation, HES data
  ≥1 1.877 (0.105) <0.001

The pseudo R2 for the equation was 0.0846. Example: for a 24-year-old non-smoker with a BMI of 28 kg/m2, a history of rhinitis, and anxiety, who is receiving Step 3 GINA therapy and has had one course of prednisolone for asthma in the previous year, the at-risk probability = ex/(1 + ex) = e−2.615/(1 + e−2.615) = 0.01, where x = −4.591, calculated from −5.013 (constant) −0.210 (BMI) −0.212 (rhinitis) + 0.192 (anxiety) + 0.101 (asthma treatment) + 0.551 (asthma attacks). BMI = body mass index. GINA = Global Initiative for Asthma. HES = Hospital Episode Statistics. IHD = ischaemic heart disease. LTRI = lower respiratory tract infection. SE = standard error.