Table 4

Results of the multivariate logistic regression: variables that were significantly associated with poor concordance to inhalers (test of adherence to inhalers-10≤45) in the total population and disease subgroups

VariableTotal sample (n=532)COPD group (n=374)Asthma group (n=95)ACO group (n=63)
Crude OR (95% CI)‡Adjusted OR (95% CI)Crude OR (95% CI)‡Adjusted OR (95% CI)Crude OR (95% CI)‡Adjusted OR (95% CI)Crude OR (95% CI)‡Adjusted OR (95% CI)
Sex (male vs female)1.66 (1.07 to 2.60)1.20 (0.47 to 3.03)
Educational level (primary vs secondary school and above0.62 (0.39 to 0.98)0.78 (0.44 to 1.38)
Smoking status (smoker vs non-smoker)1.51 (1.01 to 2.26)0.92 (0.48 to 1.78)
Medication time (years)0.93 (0.88 to 0.99)0.96 (0.90 to 1.03)0.90 (0.83 to 0.97)0.93 (0.85 to 1.03)
Disease diagnosis
 COPD1.00 (reference)1.00 (reference)
 Asthma1.80 (1.15 to 2.80)1.26 (0.70 to 2.28)
 ACO1.59 (0.87 to 2.88)1.99 (0.96 to 4.13)
CAT score1.13 (1.01 to 1.26)1.13 (1.01 to 1.26)*
ACT score0.82 (0.70 to 0.95)0.82 (0.70 to 0.95)**
Medication (mono/dual combination therapy vs triple therapy)†0.59 (0.40 to 0.85)0.60 (0.35 to 0.86) **0.59 (0.37 to 0.92)0.47 (0.27 to 0.80)**
Inhalation device (single vs multiple)0.56 (0.33 to 0.95)0.94 (0.40 to 2.20)
PIFR (optimal vs suboptimal§)1.55 (1.00 to 2.40)1.61 (1.04 to 2.51)*1.90 (1.12 to 3.23)1.93 (1.12 to 3.31)*
  • *P value<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001.

  • †Triple therapy (ICS/LABA/LAMA) included open triple and fixed triple therapy. Monotherapy refers to LAMA. Dual therapy included ICS/LABA and LABA/LAMA.

  • ‡Only patient covariates that were significant in bivariate analyses with the primary predictor of interest (p<0.05) were included in the final model.

  • §Suboptimal PIFR was defined as excessive and insufficient PIFR.

  • ACO, asthma-COPD overlap; ACT, asthma control test; CAT, COPD Assessment Test; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; ICS, inhaled corticosteroids; LABA, long-acting beta-adrenoceptor agonist; LAMA, long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonist; PIFR, peak inspiratory flow rate.