Table 1

Patient demographics and characteristics

Characteristic
Patients (n = 3415)

Male, %
35
Mean age ± SD, years
45.2 ± 16.7
Recruitment of patients*, n (%)

     PCP
2600 (76)
     Specialist
785 (23)
Mean asthma duration, years
16.0
Current smokers, n (%)
714 (21)
Daily maintenance therapy prescribed, n (%)

     ICS no LABA
1018 (30)
     ICS plus LABA
2393 (70)
     Budesonide/formoterol
769 (23)
     Salmeterol/fluticasone
1305 (38)
Self-assessed overall health when feeling well, n (%)

     Very good
1627 (48)
     Good
1221 (36)
     Average
431 (13)
     Bad
87 (3)
     Very bad
49 (1)
Self-assessed asthma level over previous 7 days versus general level, n (%)

     Relatively good
2498 (73)
     Relatively bad
871 (26)

Definition of abbreviations: ICS=inhaled corticosteroids; LABA=long-acting β2-agonist;

SD=standard deviation.

*Data not available for 30 patients. Data not available for 4 patients. Data not available for 46 patients.

Partridge et al. BMC Pulmonary Medicine 2006 6:13   doi:10.1186/1471-2466-6-13