https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5077-8329
Figures & data
Figure 1 GINA treatment intensity steps for adults living with asthma. Adapted from Global Initiative for Asthma, 2020; *Step 5 is not traditionally subdivided into two groups 5a and 5b, this has been done for the purposes of the present investigation to allow for a more detailed understanding of ICS and OCS use in Australian adults living with asthma.
Table 1 Definition of Severe Exacerbation and ICS-Related Terms Used in the Present Study
Figure 2 Patient flow showing eligibility criteria for inclusion. aActive asthma patients are defined as those who received asthma therapy in the last 2 years.
Table 2 Demographics of the Australian Adult Population Living with Asthma, as a Whole and by Age Rage. Data Was Extracted from Electronic Medical Records and Self-Reported by Questionnaire Participants
Figure 3 (A) Exacerbation frequency as per GINA treatment intensity for the total study population as per electronic medical records. (B) Exacerbation frequency as per GINA treatment intensity for the questionnaire respondents as per electronic medical records. (C) Exacerbation frequency as per GINA treatment intensity as self-reported by questionnaire respondents. GINA 1 is defined as, as needed short acting beta agonists; GINA 2 is defined as only low dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS); GINA 3 is defined as ICS only at a moderate dose or ICS/long-acting beta agonist (LABA) combination at a low dose; GINA 4 is defined as ICS at a high dose or ICS/LABA at a moderate dose; GINA 5a is defined as ICS at a high dose; 5b is defined as biologics or chronic oral corticosteroid therapy.
Figure 4 Frequency of asthma control stages by treatment intensity for questionnaire participants as defined by Global Initiative for Asthma control status questions. GINA 1 is defined as, as needed short acting beta agonists/inhaled corticosteroids (ICS); GINA 2 is defined as only low dose ICS; GINA 3 is defined as ICS only at a moderate dose or ICS/long-acting beta agonist (LABA) combination at a low dose; GINA 4 is defined as ICS at a high dose or ICS/LABA at a moderate dose; GINA 5a is defined as ICS at a high dose; 5b is defined as biologics or chronic oral corticosteroid therapy.
Table 3 Odds Ratio and 95% Confidence Intervals for the Association Between Repeated High-Intensity Steroid Exposure (Defined as >4 Exacerbations or Requiring Long-Term Oral Corticosteroid Use) and the Development of Comorbid Conditions