Table 1 Demographics and main characteristics of the recruited asthmatic patients
| Reasons for GP consultation | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total |
A: Asking for asthma drugs prescription renewal |
B: seeking for medical advice due to symptom worsening | |
| Total (n) | 1375 | 777 | 598 |
| Male (n, %) | 560 (40.7) | 313 (40.3) | 247 (41.3) |
| Female (n, %) | 815 (59.3) | 464 (59.7) | 351 (58.7) |
| Age (mean, SD) | 47.2 (17.6) | 46.0 (17.7) | 48.7 (17.4) |
| Smoking habits | |||
| • non smoker | 888 (64.6) | 522 (67.2) | 366 (61.2) |
| • smoker | 265 (19.3) | 130 (16.7) | 135 (22.6) |
| • ex smoker | 222 (16,1) | 125 (16,1) | 97 (16.2) |
| Mean duration of asthma (years, SD) | 12.8 (10.1) | 12.6 (9.9) | 13.0 (10.4) |
| Clinical diagnosis (n, %) | 604 (43.9) | 349 (44.9) | 255 (42.6) |
| Spirometry test (n, %) | 771 (56.1) | 428 (55.1) | 343 (57.4) |
| Time to last spirometry (years, SD) | 2.0 (2.7) | 2.2 (3.0) | 1.8 (2,2) |
| Therapy | |||
| - Short-acting beta2-agonists (SABA) | 814(59.2) | 458(58.9) | 356(59.5) |
| - Long-acting beta2-agonists (LABA) | 242(17.6) | 131(16.9) | 111 (18.6) |
| - Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS) | 397(28.9) | 206(26.5) | 191(31.9) |
| - Antihistamines | 414(30.1) | 230 (29.6) | 184 (30.8) |
| - Leukotriene modifiers | 272(19.8) | 142 (18.3) | 130 (21.7) |
| - LABA/ICS combinations | 793 (57.7) | 454(58.4) | 339 (56.7) |
| - Omalizumab | 5 (0.4) | 3 (0.4) | 2 (0.3) |
| - Systemic corticosteroids | 187(13.6) | 86 (11.1) | 101(16.9) |
| - Methylxantines | 58 (4.2) | 21(2.7) | 37 (6.2) |
| - Anticholinergic agents | 128 (9.3) | 54 (6.9) | 74(12.4) |
| Other(phytodrugs, homeopathicagents,ecc) | 20 (1.5) | 7 (0.9) | 13 (2.2) |