Characteristics of the 475 patients included in the final study analysis
| Algorithm | 1. Specific asthma code + reversibility testing + medication | 2. Specific asthma code + reversibility testing | 3. Specific asthma code + medication | 4. Specific asthma code | 5. Non-specific asthma code + reversibility testing + medication | 6. Symptoms + reversibility testing + medication | 7. Symptoms + reversibility testing | 8. Symptoms + medication | Total |
| Individuals, n (%) | 68 (100) | 57 (100) | 60 (100) | 59 (100) | 54 (100) | 55 (100) | 58 (100) | 64 (100) | 475 |
| Asthma diagnosis by patient's GP | 56 (82.4) | 49 (86) | 48 (80) | 51 (86.4) | 48 (88.9) | 29 (52.7) | 23 (39.7) | 38 (59.4) | 342 |
| Confirmation by respiratory physician before study start | 55 (80.9) | 29 (50.9) | 38 (63.3) | 45 (76.3) | 34 (63) | 23 (41.8) | 25 (43.1) | 36 (56.3) | 285 |
| Evidence of reversible airway obstruction | 47 (69.1) | 37 (64.9) | 32 (53.3) | 32 (54.2) | 31 (57.4) | 26 (47.3) | 19 (32.8) | 26 (40.6) | 250 |
| Mean age | 52.3 | 51.4 | 47 | 41.9 | 45 | 60.9 | 61.3 | 52.1 | |
| Mean age (95% CI) | (47.4 to 57.2) | (46.2 to 56.7) | (41.4 to 52.6) | (36.1 to 47.6) | (38.7 to 51.3) | (55.3 to 66.4) | (57.1 to 65.5) | (45.4 to 58.7) | |
| <18 years old (%) | 7.35 | 7.02 | 15.25 | 18.64 | 16.67 | 7.27 | 1.72 | 20.31 | 11.81 |
| Sex: male | 31 (45.6) | 17 (29.8) | 16 (26.7) | 23 (39) | 26 (48.1) | 28 (50.9) | 24 (41.4) | 31 (48.4) | 196 |
| Current smoker* | 11 (16.2) | 10 (17.5) | 10 (16.7) | 5 (8.5) | 4 (7.4) | 5 (9.1) | 8 (13.8) | 4 (6.3) | 57 |
| Ex-smoker* | 16 (23.5) | 14 (24.6) | 17 (28.3) | 16 (27.1) | 15 (27.8) | 11 (20) | 10 (17.2) | 12 (18.8) | 111 |
| Never smoker* | 35 (51.5) | 26 (45.6) | 25 (41.7) | 36 (61.0) | 32 (59.3) | 18 (32.7) | 11 (19.0) | 27 (42.2) | 210 |
| Individuals with supporting info | 23 (33.8) | 21 (36.8) | 22 (36.7) | 14 (23.7) | 14 (25.9) | 17 (30.9) | 14 (24.1) | 22 (34.4) | 147 |
*As stated by patient’s GP on the study questionnaire.
GP, general practitioner.