Skip to main content

Table 1 Characteristics of cases and controls for severe and moderate asthma exacerbations

From: Respiratory effect of beta-blockers in people with asthma and cardiovascular disease: population-based nested case control study

 

Severe asthma exacerbations

Moderate asthma exacerbation

Cases

Controls

Cases

Controls

Number of people

608

6048

4234

41,881

Female sex, no. (%)

428 (70.4)

4261 (70.5)

2815 (66.5)

27,898 (66.6)

Age (years), mean ± SD

62.4 ± 13.4

62.5 ± 13.3

62.8 ± 11.8

62.9 ± 11.7

Years of follow-up, mean ± SD

2.9 ± 2.9

2.9 ± 2.9

2.0 ± 2.5

2.0 ± 2.5

Asthma medication use,a no. (%)

 SABA

482 (79.3)

3631 (60.0)

2809 (66.3)

22,916 (54.7)

 ICS

492 (80.1)

4336 (71.7)

3060 (72.3)

27,236 (65.0)

 LABA

339 (55.8)

1905 (31.5)

1407 (33.2)

9975 (23.8)

 Leukotriene antagonists

67 (11.0)

193 (3.2)

108 (2.6)

731 (1.8)

 Methylxanthines

52 (8.6)

107 (1.7)

80 (1.9)

564 (1.4)

 Oral corticosteroids

270 (44.4)

417 (6.9)

n/a

n/a

Cardiac medication use,b no. (%)

 Alpha blockers

68 (11.2)

590 (9.8)

395 (9.3)

3774 (9.0)

 Beta-blockers

47 (7.7)

533 (8.8)

425 (10.0)

4628 (11.1)

 Calcium channel blockers

293 (48.2)

2755 (45.6)

1775 (41.9)

18,708 (44.7)

 Diuretics

333 (54.8)

3210 (53.1)

2185 (51.6)

21,240 (50.7)

 Nitrates

97 (16.0)

653 (10.8)

495 (11.7)

4760 (11.4)

 Renin angiotensin system inhibitors

404 (66.5)

3973 (65.7)

2679 (63.3)

26344 (62.3)

Charlson comorbidity index, ± SD

2.0 ± 1.5

1.9 ± 1.4

1.8 ± 1.3

2.0 ± 1.5

Body mass index, ± SD

31.0 ± 7.0

30.1 ± 6.3

30.2 ± 6.3

29.7 ± 6.0

Smoking status, no. (%)

 Current smoker

63 (10.4)

566 (9.4)

444 (10.5)

4132 (9.9)

 Non-smoker

516 (84.9)

5314 (87.9)

3664 (86.5)

36,256 (86.5)

 Missing

29 (4.8)

168 (2.8)

126 (3.0)

1493 (3.6)

Respiratory tract infection,a no. (%)

110 (18.1)

398 (6.6)

597 (14.1)

2001 (4.8)

Ever hospitalised for asthma, no. (%)

84 (13.8)

120 (2.0)

115 (2.7)

602 (1.5)

Primary care asthma review,b no. (%)

283 (46.6)

2917 (48.2)

2104 (49.7)

18,905 (45.1)

  1. aIn the 90 days prior to the index date
  2. bIn the year prior to the index date
  3. No. number, SD standard deviation, SABA short-acting beta2-agonists, ICS inhaled corticosteroids, LABA long-acting beta2-agonists, n/a not applicable