Fig. 3: Study design for medium- and high-dose ICS/LABA cohorts.

a Medium-dose ICS/LABA cohort; b high-dose ICS/LABA cohort. If no events occurred during the post-index period or if the first event happened after the patient stepped down or discontinued treatment, the patient was considered to be controlled based on asthma control achieved during the index treatment dose. Crossed circle (⊗), treatment discontinuation defined as no treatment prescription for 90 days after the runout date of last ICS/LABA prescription or step down. Inverted triangle (▾), first event of exacerbation or a treatment step up (increase in ICS dose [medium-dose ICS/LABA cohort only] or addition of another asthma controller: LAMA, LTRA, theophylline, or maintenance systemic corticosteroids). ICS inhaled corticosteroid, LABA long-acting β₂-agonist, LAMA long-acting muscarinic antagonist, LTRA leukotriene antagonist, SABA short-acting β₂-agonist.