Table 1 Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics
Characteristic | Formoterol (n = 57) | Budesonide/formoterol (n = 58) |
|---|---|---|
Male/female, n | 20/37 | 22/36 |
Age, years (range) | 43.9 (12–72) | 45.9 (13–78) |
Race, n (%) | ||
Caucasian | 39 (68) | 37 (64) |
Black | 0 | 1 (2) |
Other | 18 (32) | 20 (34) |
Asthma duration, years (range) | 20 (1–65) | 22.5 (0–54) |
Acute severe asthma exacerbations in the 12 months before study entry | ||
Number (%) of patients with event | 56 (98) | 54 (93) |
Mean number of events (range) | 6.3 (1–30) | 6.4 (1–40) |
Duration of current asthma exacerbation, n | ||
<6 hours | 2 | 2 |
6–12 hours | 4 | 1 |
12–24 hours | 4 | 11 |
>24 hours | 47 | 43 |
FEV1, L (range) | 1.15 (0.7–2.0) | 1.12 (0.6–1.9) |
FEV1, % of predicted normal (range) | 41 (30–55) | 40 (26–55) |
Reversibility, % of predicted normal (range) | 2.4 (-8 to +8) | 2.1 (-7 to +8) |
Reversibility, % of baseline (range) | 5.8 (-18 to +23) | 5.5 (-16 to +20) |
Number (%) of patients prescribed long-acting β2-agonist at entry | 4 (7) | 6 (10) |
Number (%) of patients prescribed ICS at entrya | 16 (28) | 17 (29) |
ICS at entry, μg (range) | 768 (160–2560) | 624 (100–2400) |