Question 2

A recent study examined the benefits of adding budesonide nebulization to systemic prednisolone when treating acute asthma in children. Children were randomized to receive budesonide plus prednisolone or prednisolone alone. Of the 458 individuals treated with budesonide, 75 were admitted to the hospital for acute asthma symptoms within the first month of treatment. Among those treated with prednisolone alone, 82 of 448 were admitted to the hospital for acute asthma symptoms within the first month.

a) Using Stata, calculate the cumulative incidence ratio of hospital admission within the first month comparing children who received budesonide (exposed) to children who received prednisolone only (unexposed). Interpret this measure.

b) Using Stata, construct a 95% confidence interval for the true population cumulative incidence ratio. What does this confidence interval tell you about the relationship between type of treatment and hospital admission for acute asthma symptoms?

c) Calculate and interpret the cumulative incidence difference for hospital admissions comparing budesonide to prednisolone only.

d) Using Stata, calculate a 95% confidence interval for the risk difference. Based on this interval, would you reach the same conclusion about the association between type of treatment and hospital admission for acute asthma symptoms that you reached in part (b)?