Figure 1

Examples of patterns of medication use during follow-up. In these examples patients are observed during maximum follow-up. 1a A patient with continuous use throughout the study period. 1b A patient with periods of ICS prescription refill in subsequent years of follow-up and two separate years without a refill prescription; cumulative medication gap of two years. 1c A patient with periods of ICS prescription refill in subsequent years of follow-up and two consecutive years without a refill prescription; cumulative medication gap of two years. 1d A patient, that did not refill an ICS prescription during follow-up while still under observation.