What do systematic reviews say?

Children: formoterol/fluticasone vs regular salmeterol and fluticasone

• Regular treatment with formoterol and an inhaled corticosteroid versus regular treatment with salmeterol and an… 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 548 participants
  GRADE not reported

Regular formoterol and ICS vs same‐dose ICS

Regular formoterol and ICS showed no clear difference in asthma‐related non‐fatal serious adverse events compared with same‐dose ICS (moderate certainty).

• Inhaled steroids with and without regular formoterol for asthma: serious adverse events 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.86 [0.64, 1.14]
  30 studies · 35158 participants
  Moderate

Regular formoterol and ICS vs same‐dose ICS

It is very uncertain whether regular formoterol and ICS changes asthma‐related non‐fatal serious adverse events compared with same‐dose ICS (very low certainty).

• Inhaled steroids with and without regular formoterol for asthma: serious adverse events 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.18 [0.4, 3.51]
  10 studies · 4035 participants
  Very low

Regular salmeterol vs salbutamol

Regular salmeterol showed no clear difference in asthma‐related non‐fatal serious adverse events ‐ children compared with regular salbutamol (low certainty).

• Regular treatment with salmeterol for chronic asthma: serious adverse events 2008 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.04 [0.47, 2.31]
  3 studies · 1186 participants
  Low

Regular salmeterol vs placebo

Regular salmeterol showed no clear difference in asthma‐related non‐fatal serious adverse events ‐ children compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Regular treatment with salmeterol for chronic asthma: serious adverse events 2008 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.72 [1, 2.98]
  5 studies · 1333 participants
  Moderate

Regular salmeterol vs salbutamol

Regular salmeterol showed no clear difference in asthma‐related non‐fatal serious adverse events ‐ adults and… compared with regular salbutamol (low certainty).

• Regular treatment with salmeterol for chronic asthma: serious adverse events 2008 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.94 [0.37, 2.34]
  3 studies · 1155 participants
  Low

Regular salmeterol vs placebo

Regular salmeterol showed no clear difference in asthma‐related non‐fatal serious adverse events ‐ adults and… compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Regular treatment with salmeterol for chronic asthma: serious adverse events 2008 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.43 [0.75, 2.71]
  12 studies · 3841 participants
  Low

Adults: formoterol/ICS vs salmeterol/ICS

Adults: formoterol/ICS showed no clear difference in asthma‐related non‐fatal serious adverse events ‐… compared with salmeterol/ICS (low certainty).

• Regular treatment with formoterol and an inhaled corticosteroid versus regular treatment with salmeterol and an… 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.69 [0.37, 1.26]
  7 studies · 5935 participants
  Low
• Regular treatment with formoterol and an inhaled corticosteroid versus regular treatment with salmeterol and an… 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.01 [0.06, 16.24]
  5 studies · 1510 participants
  Very low
• Regular treatment with formoterol and an inhaled corticosteroid versus regular treatment with salmeterol and an… 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.05 [0, 3.1]
  2 studies · 293 participants
  Very low