Fig. 1

Patient selection

Asthma exacerbations were defined as outpatient or emergency department visits with a diagnosis of asthma and at least one dispensing of systemic corticosteroids ± 5 days after the encounter or exacerbations resulting in hospitalization/inpatient hospital admission with a diagnosis of asthma as a primary diagnosis

ICES, Institute for Clinical and Evaluative Sciences; PSP, patient support program