From: A self-rating scale for patient-perceived side effects of inhaled corticosteroids
Variable | Total Sample | Non ICS Inhaler | Low dose ICS ≤400 μg | Mid dose ICS 401–800 μg | High dose ICS > 800 μg | p-value |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | n = 255 | n = 27 | n = 61 | n = 62 | n = 105 |  |
Age (years) | 42 (33–50) | 33 (28–39) | 40 (32–51) | 47 (37–50) | 42 (33–50) | 0.005 |
% male | 44 | 44 | 51 | 44 | 40 | 0.295* |
Smoking | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
% current or past smokers | 44 | 37 | 44 | 47 | 43 | 0.775* |
Pack yearsa | 0 (0–3) | 0 (0–2) | 0 (0–4) | 0 (0–4) | 0 (0–2) | 0.782 |
Asthma severity | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Asthma control questionnaire (ACQ) score (0–6) | 0.8 (0.3–1.5) | 1.2 (0.5–1.7) | 0.5 (0.2–1.3) | 0.7 (0.3–1.2) | 0.8 (0.3–1.7) | 0.075 |
No. emergency GP appointments for asthma in last year % none/% ≥1 | 80/20 | 85/15 | 87/13 | 84/16 | 73/27 | 0.034 |
Educational level achieved | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
% Primary and lower vocational | 34 | 26 | 31 | 34 | 37 | Â |
% Secondary/intermediate vocational | 38 | 33 | 33 | 47 | 37 | Â |
% Higher vocational/university | 28 | 41 | 36 | 19 | 26 | 0.070 |
Use of asthma medication | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
No. of daily puffs SABA % none/% 1–2/% ≥3 | 69/24/7 | 22/59/19 | 79/20/1 | 84/10/6 | 68/25/7 | 0.049¶ |
Daily equivalent dose†of LABAc %0 μg/%1–200 μg | 39/61 | 89/11 | 53/47 | 33/67 | 20/80 | ≤0.001 |
No. of courses of Prednisolone in last 3 yearsc % none/%1–2/%≥3 | 57/27/16 | 74/19/7 | 64/27/9 | 58/27/15 | 49/29/22 | 0.002¶ |
% currently using nasal steroids | 25 | 7 | 28 | 31 | 25 | 0.296* |
% currently using dermal or ocular steroids | 6 | 7 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 0.291*¶ |
No. of other concomitantly prescribed medications % none/%1–2/%≥3 | 37/42/21 | 52/30/18 | 39/48/13 | 34/48/18 | 34/39/27 | 0.048 |
Perceived side effect in last 14-days: | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
ICQ total score | 11 (4–22) | 5 (0.8–11) | 7 (3–14) | 10 (3–21) | 15 (9–30) | ≤0.001 |
Personality: | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Negative affectivity score (PANAS) | 17 (14–22) | 14 (13–20) | 15 (13–21) | 17 (14–21) | 17 (15–24) | 0.09 |
Neuroticism score (EPQ-RSS) score (0–12)d | 4 (2–7) | 4 (1–7) | 3 (1–6) | 4 (2–6) | 4 (1–7) | 0.727* |
Inhaler behavior | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
% rinsing mouth after inhalatione | Â | Â | 75 | 82 | 77 | 0.928* |
% using spacer device | Â | Â | 2 | 7 | 15 | 0.003 |
% use of ICS 7 days per week (adherent)b |  |  | 82 | 90 | 99 | ≤0.001 |