2. The patient requires continuous treatment with high doses of inhaled steroids. If the patient does not take oral steroids, the inhaled dose of steroids must be more than 1600 microg/day budesonide or beclomethasone, or more than 800 microg/day fluticasone or equivalent. In case the patient does take oral steroids, the inhaled dose of steroids must be more than 800 microg/day budesonide or beclomethasone, or more than 400 microg/day fluticasone or equivalent.