The rates of treatment response (more than 50% improvement in symptoms) were: 19.2% at 2 weeks, 56.8% at 4 weeks, 73.3% at 6 weeks, and 77.4% at 8 weeks with ESC; and 16.9% at 2 weeks, 52.1% at 4 weeks, 63.4% at 6 weeks, and 79.6% at 8 weeks with VEN.
The rates of partial response (25% - 50% improvement in symptoms) were: 39.7% at 2 weeks, 28.1% at 4 weeks, 14.4% at 6 weeks, and 11.0% at 8 weeks with ESC; and 43.0% at 2 weeks, 34.5% at 4 weeks, 22.5% at 6 weeks, and 12.0% at 8 weeks with VEN.
The rates of no response (less than 50% improvement in symptoms) were: 41.1% at 2 weeks, 15.1% at 4 weeks, 12.3% at 6 weeks, and 11.6% at 8 weeks with ESC; and 40.1% at 2 weeks, 13.4% at 4 weeks, 14.1% at 6 weeks, and 8.4% at 8 weeks with VEN.
The results of the survey of physicians' prescribing patterns were not reported but the therapeutic options given to the GPs and MSs were presented. They included giving advice to the patient without changing the drug, increasing the dosage, changing to a combination therapy, changing to another drug, hospitalisation and referral to a specialist (for GPs).