Efficacy variables | Single inhaler therapy | Separate inhaler therapy | Budesonide |
Patients n | 123 | 115 | 124 |
Morning PEF L·min−1 | |||
Baseline value±sd | 359±116 | 357±96 | 359±107 |
Change from baseline | 35.7*** | 32.0*** | 0.2 |
(95% CI) | (28.4–43.0) | (24.5–39.4) | (−7.1–7.6 |
Evening PEF L·min−1 | |||
Baseline value±sd | 376±118 | 367±98 | 373±108 |
Change from baseline | 24.8*** | 22.3*** | −3.7 |
(95% CI) | (18.2–31.4) | (15.5–29.0) | (−10.3–3.0) |
Total asthma symptom score (0–6) | |||
Baseline value±sd | 1.40±1.15 | 1.27±1.03 | 1.15±1.03 |
Change from baseline | −0.52*** | −0.44** | −0.20 |
(95% CI) | (−0.65–−0.39) | (−0.57–0.31) | (−0.33–−0.07) |
Use of β2-agonist (inhalations·day−1) | |||
Baseline value±sd | 2.2±2.3 | 2.3±2.4 | 2.2±2.4 |
Change from baseline | −0.99** | −1.13*** | −0.44 |
(95% CI) | (−1.29–−0.69) | (−1.43–0.28) | (−0.74–−0.13) |
Reliever-use-free days % | |||
Baseline value±sd | 31.9±37.8 | 30.5±39.4 | 31.0±40.1 |
Change from baseline | 31.9*** | 31.9*** | 12.8 |
(95% CI) | (26.3–37.5) | (26.2–37.6) | 7.1–18.4 |
Night-time awakenings due to asthma % | 15.8±25.1 | 19.2±30.0 | 15.6±27.5 |
Baseline value±sd | −8.4 | −5.6 | −5.8 |
Change from baseline | (−11.4–−5.4) | (−8.7–−2.5) | (−8.8–−2.7) |
(95% CI) | |||
Symptom-free days % | |||
Baseline value±sd | 26.2±36.9 | 27.4±37.3 | 31.9±40.0 |
Change from baseline | 25.0*** | 22.3*** | 8.0 |
(95% CI) | (19.5–30.6) | (16.6–28.0) | (2.4–13.6) |
Asthma control days % | |||
Baseline value±sd | 21.3±34.0 | 21.5±34.0 | 24.1±36.6 |
Change from baseline | 28.5*** | 26.9*** | 12.1 |
(95% CI) | (22.8–34.2) | (21.1–32.8) | (6.3–17.9) |
PEF: peak expiratory flow
sd: standard deviation
C: confidence interval
**: p<0.01 versus budesonide
***: p<0.01 versus budesonide, on significant difference (p>0.05) was seen for the pair-wise comparisons between the single inhaler and separate inhaler groups