Table 3 Primary and secondary outcomes at 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th follow ups
From: Randomized trial of acupoints herbal patching in Sanfu Days for asthma in clinical remission stage
Variable | 1st follow up | 2nd follow up | 3rd follow up | 4th follow up | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Acupoints herbal patching mean (SD) | Placebo mean (SD) | P | Acupoints herbal patching mean (SD) | Placebo mean (SD) | P | Acupoints herbal patching mean (SD) | Placebo mean (SD) | P | Acupoints herbal patching mean (SD) | Placebo mean (SD) | P | |
Asthma-related symptoms—no. of days in 1 month preceding visit | 4.73 ± 8.95 | 6.96 ± 10.91 | 0.11 | 7.71 ± 15.74 | 8.49 ± 10.97 | 0.70 | 6.86 ± 10.83 | 7.63 ± 10.06 | 0.67 | 8.55 ± 11.82 | 5.87 ± 9.79 | 0.19 |
Lung function | ||||||||||||
FEV1 | 1.95 ± 0.77 | 1.99 ± 0.83 | 0.77 | 1.95 ± 1.02 | 2.03 ± 1.03 | 0.62 | 1.83 ± 0.73 | 1.95 ± 0.79 | 0.35 | 1.67 ± 0.65 | 1.89 ± 0.84 | 0.11 |
FEV1: FVC × 100 | 86.59 ± 13.25 | 87.49 ± 11.90 | 0.61 | 86.35 ± 12.90 | 87.10 ± 11.49 | 0.69 | 86.45 ± 12.35 | 88.33 ± 12.94 | 0.39 | 84.42 ± 12.97 | 86.56 ± 12.34 | 0.37 |
Asthma-related health care use—no. (%) | ||||||||||||
≥1 admit to A&E | 9 (9) | 4 (4) | 0.17 | 11 (12) | 8 (9) | 0.53 | 4 (5) | 7 (11) | 0.22 | 8 (13) | 9 (17) | 0.62 |
≥1 hospitalization | 5 (5) | 4 (4) | 0.78 | 8 (9) | 5 (7) | 0.44 | 4 (5) | 3 (5) | 0.87 | 4 (7) | 6 (11) | 0.40 |
≥1 outpatient visit | 24 (23) | 29 (29) | 0.34 | 29 (32) | 30 (35) | 0.71 | 21 (28) | 21 (33) | 0.53 | 24 (40) | 27 (50) | 0.28 |
≥1 prescription | 64 (61) | 68 (67) | 0.34 | 56 (61) | 64 (73) | 0.09 | 45 (61) | 44 (70) | 0.27 | 42 (70) | 42 (78) | 0.35 |
≥1 by own medication | 7 (7) | 10 (10) | 0.40 | 5 (5) | 9 (10) | 0.23 | 7 (10) | 1 (2) | 0.05 | 5 (8) | 6 (11) | 0.62 |
≥1 didn’t need treatment | 16 (15) | 6 (6) | 0.03 | 9 (10) | 7 (8) | 0.67 | 5 (7) | 0 (0) | 0.04 | 10 (17) | 6 (11) | 0.43 |
The frequency of bronchodilator during asthma attack—no. (%) | ||||||||||||
More than twice per day | 22 (21) | 19 (19) | 0.41 | 26 (28) | 20 (23) | 0.08 | 13 (18) | 14 (22) | 0.05 | 14 (23) | 12 (22) | 0.58 |
Once to twice per day | 32 (31) | 39 (39) | 21 (23) | 37 (42) | 20 (27) | 27 (43) | 30 (50) | 31 (57) | ||||
2–3 times per week | 1 (1) | 4 (4) | 1 (1) | 0 (0) | 2 (3) | 0 (0) | 2 (3) | 1 (2) | ||||
Less than once per week | 13 (12) | 10 (10) | 8 (9) | 5 (6) | 8 (11) | 1 (2) | 2 (3) | 4 (7) | ||||
Never | 37 (35) | 29 (29) | 36 (39) | 26 (30) | 31 (42) | 21 (33) | 12 (20) | 6 (11) | ||||
Symptoms which frequently appeared in asthma patients—no. of symptoms | 2.75 ± 2.32 | 2.41 ± 2.01 | 0.26 | 2.18 ± 2.10 | 2.18 ± 1.99 | 0.99 | 2.36 ± 2.41 | 2.48 ± 2.63 | 0.80 | 3.87 ± 3.36 | 4.94 ± 4.30 | 0.14 |