Predictors of severe exacerbations, poor asthma control, and β-agonist overuse for patients with asthma.

Background: Predictors of asthma exacerbations, poor asthma control, or extreme β-agonist overuse may be of clinical utility in the management of asthma.

Objective: To investigate characteristics that predict subsequent adverse outcomes in asthma.

Methods: An independent 24-week, randomized controlled trial of 303 adult patients with asthma who are at risk, which compared the efficacy of SMART (single budesonide-formoterol inhaler as maintenance and reliever therapy) with a fixed-dose regimen with salbutamol as reliever ("Standard").