Treatment at time of assessment and adherence with prednisolone and theophylline treatment
| Confirmed asthma | Unconfirmed asthma | |
| Subjects n | 55 | 20 |
| BDP | 1 (2000) | 0 |
| BUD | 23 (2000, 800–12000) | 6 (1800, 1000–3200) |
| FP | 32 (2000, 1000–4000) | 14 (1500, 1000–3000) |
| LAB | 37 | 15 |
| Theophylline | 25 | 9 |
| Undetectable in serum | 2 | 2 |
| Nebulised | ||
| β2‐agonist | 28 (+18 as required) | 8 (+2 as required) |
| Subcutaneous | ||
| Terbutaline | 11 (5, 2–12) | 1 (12) |
| Prednisolone | 38 (15, 12.5–125) | 14 (30, 2–60) |
| Serum level undetectable* with normal cortisol | 6/18 | 0/10 |
| Serum level detectable with normal cortisol | 3/18 | 0/10 |
| Mean concentration# µg·L−1 | ||
| >15 mg·day−1 | 616±143 | 624±125 |
| <15 mg·day−1 | 465±90 | 397±136 |
Patients were divided into those with confirmed asthma (history and/or either bronchodilator reversibility or diurnal variation on peak expiratory flow (PEF) charts) and unconfirmed asthma (history but not currently reversible or with peak flow variability)
Beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP), budesonide (BUD) and fluticasone propionate (FP) are all shown as median dose in µg·day−1 (range)
Long-acting β2‐agonist (LAB), theophylline, nebulised β2‐ agonist, subcutaneous terbutaline and oral prednisolone are shown as numbers in each group taking each treatment (with median dose and range in mg·day−1 for subcutaneous terbutaline and prednisolone)
Adherence with prednisolone is shown for patients prescribed ≥15 mg·day−1 (should have suppressed cortisol)
#: data presented as mean+se
*: p<0.05