| Prednisolone | Placebo | Prednisolone versus placebo | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n | Median (IQR) | n | Median (IQR) | HR (95% CI);P value | Time ratioa (95% CI); P value | |
| Duration of moderately badorworse cough | 17 | 3 (2–6) | 14 | 3 (1–6) | ||
| Unadjusted | 1.01 (0.49 to 2.05); P = 0.99 | 1.03 (0.53 to 2.02); P = 0.94 | ||||
| Adjusted for centre and baseline cough durationb | 1.10 (0.47 to 2.54); P = 0.83 | 1.08 (0.59 to 1.96); P = 0.79 | ||||
| Secondary additional adjustmentc | 1.19 (0.39 to 3.75); P = 0.75 | 0.77 (0.38 to 1.57); P = 0.47 | ||||
| n | Mean (SD) | n | Mean (SD) | Difference in means (95%CI);Pvalue | ||
| Mean symptom severity score,days2–4d | 21 | 1.83 (1.05) | 16 | 1.95 (0.87) | ||
| Unadjusted | –0.13 (–0.79 to 0.53); P = 0.69 | |||||
| Adjusted for centre and baseline illness severity | –0.14 (–0.78 to 0.49); P = 0.65 | |||||
| Secondary additional adjustment | 0.02 (–1.01 to 1.07); P = 0.95 | |||||
aTime ratio can be interpreted as the relative increase or decrease in time to resolution from moderately bad or worse cough in the prednisolone versus the placebo group. bBaseline measure of duration of cough is prior duration of cough (1–28 days) and of mean symptoms severity score is patient-reported illness severity (range 0–10). cAdjusted for centre, baseline cough duration or illness severity, factors showing imbalance at baseline (age, family history of atopy, smoking status, lives with smoker, sputum, and abnormal peak flow). dSee Method section for derivation of mean symptoms severity score (0 [least severe] to 6 [most severe]). HR = hazard ratio. IQR = interquartile range. SD = standard deviation.