Table 1 Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the study participants

Mean age, months (SD)

83.80 (15.87)

86.65 (15.06)

92 (17.60)

90.70 (16.08)

0.1

Male

22 (55%)

22 (55%)

26 (65%)

20 (50%)

0.89

Mean number of siblings (SD)

2.45 (1.43)

2.80 (1.32)

3.35 (1.3)

1.90 (0.97)

0

First in birth order

20 (50%)

16 (40%)

12 (30%)

12 (30%)

0.2

Frequent deferral from regular activities due to asthma

6 (15%)

5 (12.5%)

7 (17.5%)

8 (20%)

0.82

Illiterate mother

6 (15%)

4 (10%)

4 (10%)

20 (50%)

0.63

Illiterate father

8 (20%)

5 (12.5%)

6 (15%)

5 (12.5%)

0.84

Non-working mother

28 (70%)

24 (60%)

32 (80%)

12 (30%)

0.52

Non-working father

18 (45%)

18 (45%)

24 (60%)

17 (42.5%)

0.38

Urban residence

13 (32.5%)

19 (47.5%)

12 (30%)

20 (50%)

0.16

Mean monthly income per household, pounds (SD)

165 (41.8)

156 (46.2)

161 (43.2)

158 (39.6)

0.89

Lack of access to infrastructure

6 (15%)

4 (10%)

5 (12.5%)

5 (12.5%)

0.93

Mean age of asthma onset (SD)

29.80 (13.70)

30.80 (12.66)

25.20 (10.18)

27.35 (12.94)

0.18

Frequency of attacks/year, mean (SD)

10.25 (9.36)

9.2 (11.15)

13.35 (9.70)

10.15 (8.97)

0.25

Mean duration of attacks in hours (SD)

4.93 (1.81)

4.89 (2.03)

5.85 (1.72)

5.35 (2.27)

0.11

Mean number of hospitalization in the last 2 months (SD)

1.35 (0.75)

1.55 (0.95)

1.18 (0.89)

1.45 (0.93)

0.21

FEV1 (% of predicted value)

83.13 (3.73%)

83.7 (2.86%)

84.42 (3.99%)

85.05 (3.98%)

0.12

Mean PEFR, l/min (SD)

208.27 (4.9)

207.72 (5.7)

206.67 (4.73)

206.35 (4.94)

0.3

On maintenance treatment

15 (37.50%)

17 (42.5%)

18 (45%)

18 (45%)

0.89

Family history of asthma

32 (80%)

27 (67.5%)

33 (82.5%)

25 (62.5%)

0.13