Study drug cost(\#8364;#) per patient per yr¶
| Country | SAL/FLU + salbutamol | BUD/FORM maintenance + as needed | Between-group difference (95% CI) | % difference | |||
| Cost·inhalation−1 SAL/FLU 50/100–50/500 µg | Cost·inhalation−1 salbutamol+ | Total cost·yr−1 | Cost·inhalation−1 | Total cost·yr−1 | |||
| Italy | 0.77–1.45 | 0.02 | 815 | 0.58 | 835 | 20 (1–40) | +2 |
| France | 0.71–1.17 | 0.03 | 665 | 0.48 | 691 | 26 (11–43) | +3 |
| UK | 0.81–1.06 | 0.03 | 701 | 0.46 | 668 | −33 (−48– −17) | −5 |
| Germany | 0.81–1.72 | 0.07 | 910 | 0.57 | 821 | −89 (−111– −67) | −10 |
SAL/FLU: salmeterol/fluticasone; BUD/FORM: budesonide/formoterol; CI: confidence interval. #: GBP £1 = \#8364;1.45 (December 3, 2004); ¶: the costs presented relate to drugs only and do not include healthcare utilisation; +: patients were allowed to use salbutamol via dry-powder inhaler in some countries and via pressurised metered-dose inhaler in other countries. The cost used in this estimation is based on the relative use of dry-powder inhaler and pressurised metered-dose inhaler in the respective countries.