Table 2 Intermittent OCS use by SABA use at initial OCS prescription among UK patients with asthma.

From: Application of an algorithm to analyze patterns of intermittent oral corticosteroid use in asthma

SABA prescriptions

Intermittent OCS use, n (%)

Any OCS (n = 476,167)

Once-only OCS (n = 198,422)

Less frequent OCS (n = 127,419)

Frequent OCS (n = 150,326)

0

113,262 (23.8)

44,766 (22.6)

30,987 (24.3)

37,507 (25.0)

1–2

213,594 (44.9)

96,751 (48.8)

55,660 (43.7)

61,183 (40.7)

≥3

149,311 (31.4)

56,903 (28.7)

40,772 (32.0)

51,636 (34.3)

  1. OCS oral corticosteroid; SABA short-acting β2-agonist.