Predictors of attenuation of long-term FEV₁ decline by fluticasone treatment.

Definition of abbreviations: postbr. = postbronchodilator; FEV1 = forced expiratory volume in one second; % pred = percentage of predicted value; PC20 methacholine = the provocative concentration of methacholine that causes a decrease in FEV1 of 20%; RV/TLC = residual volume/total lung capacity; TLCO = diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide. #Index category is defined relative to median value, and represents the more favourable outcome by fluticasone. Reference category is complementary. The interaction term (treatment*stratum*time) reflects the additional effect of predictor variables to the effect of treatment with inhaled fluticasone compared to placebo on longitudinal changes in FEV1. The corresponding P values for predictor variables are reported in Table 4. A favourable effect on decline in FEV1 would be a decrease in decline caused by inhaled corticosteroids. Predictors of attenuation of long-term FEV1 decline by fluticasone treatment.