Characteristics of ICS consumption the year prior to cohort entry based on redeemed prescriptions
| ICS standard particles*, (n=34 220) | ICS extrafine particles*, (n=1471) | |
| Daily ICS dose†, µg, median (IQR) | 657.5 (315.6–1315.1) | 670.7 (328.8–1150.7) |
| ICS exposure groups‡, n (%) | ||
| Low(<420 µg/day) | 11 514 (33.6) | 469 (31.9) |
| Moderate (420–986 µg/day) | 11 474 (33.5) | 543 (36.9) |
| High (>986 µg/day) | 11 232 (32.8) | 459 (31.2) |
| No of prescriptions, median (IQR) | 5 (3–9) | 6 (3–10) |
| ICS type users, n (%) | ||
| Beclomethasone | 34 (0.1) | 0 |
| Beclomethasone HFA | 0 | 1197 (81.4) |
| Budesonide | 18 010 (52.6) | 0 |
| Fluticasone propionate | 15 746 (46.0) | 0 |
| Fluticasone furoate | 384 (1.1) | 0 |
| Ciclesonide | 0 | 274 (18.6) |
| Momethasone | 46 (0.1) | 0 |
*Spray devices containing beclomethason HFA solutions or ciclesonide are categorised as extrafine particles, all other ICS devices are categorised as standard particle size.
†Based on ICS accumulated budesonide equivalent dose 1 year prior to cohort entry. Budesonide equivalent dose was calculated using ratios summarised in online supplemental table 3.
‡ICS exposure groups (low, moderate and high) were made by dividing the population into three equally big groups based on the ICS budesonide equivalent dose.
HFA, hydrofluoroalkane inhaler; ICS, inhaled corticosteroid.