Table 2 Utilization of anti-asthmatic medications and health service use in the case and control groups.

From: Independent risk factors for death in patients admitted for asthma exacerbation in Taiwan

 

Case

(n = 267)

Control

(n = 1035)

p values

Class of anti-asthmatic medicationa

SABA

248 (92.9)

733 (70.8)

<0.0001

OCS

180 (67.4)

514 (50.0)

<0.0001

XAN

140 (52.4)

509 (49.2)

0.3428

ICS/LABA fixed dose

38 (14.2)

179 (17.3)

0.2312

LABA alone

2 (0.7)

10 (1.0)

0.7406

ICS alone

16 (6.0)

67 (6.5)

0.7743

LTRA

10 (3.7)

31 (3.0)

0.5315

No prescribed drugs for asthma

16 (6.0)

154 (14.9)

0.0001

Asthma-associated HSU

ED visit

0.51 ± 1.26

0.26 ± 1.22

0.0034

 0

201 (75.3)

872 (84.3)

0.0004

 1

38 (14.2)

125 (12.1)

 

 ≥2

28 (10.5)

38 (3.7)

 

Hospitalization

1.09 ± 1.25

0.2 ± 0.65

<0.0001

 0

106 (39.7)

881 (85.1)

<0.0001

 1

87 (32.6)

125 (12.1)

 

 ≥2

74 (27.7)

29 (2.8)

 

OPD visit

4.68 ± 7.33

3.02 ± 5.82

0.0007

 0

123 (46.1)

526 (50.8)

0.0046

 1–2

34 (12.7)

186 (18.0)

 

 >3

110 (41.2)

323 (31.2)

 

HSU 1 year before index date

ED visit

2.28 ± 3.08

1.38 ± 1.98

0.0002

 0

84 (31.5)

466 (45.0)

<0.0001

 1–2

86 (32.2)

376 (36.3)

 

 ≥3

97 (36.3)

193 (18.6)

 

Hospitalization

3.85 ± 2.62

1.18 ± 2.07

<0.0001

 0

10 (3.7)

522 (50.4)

<0.0001

 1–2

77 (28.8)

367 (35.5)

 

 ≥3

180 (67.4)

146 (14.1)

 

OPD visit

18.59 ± 12.38

20.56 ± 10.90

0.4456

 0

18 (6.7)

12 (1.2)

<0.0001

 1–12

27 (10.1)

110 (10.6)

 

 13–24

46 (17.2)

213 (20.6)

 

 >24

176 (66.0)

700 (67.6)

 
  1. Data are reported as mean ± S.D. or number (%).
  2. COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ED emergency department, GERD gastroesophageal reflux disease, HSU health service use, ICS inhaled corticosteroid, LABA long-acting beta2-agonist, LTRA leukotriene receptor antagonist, OCS oral corticosteroid, OPD outpatient department, SABA short-acting beta2-agonist, XAN xanthine derivatives.
  3. aHistory of asthma drug use in the year prior to index admission.