What do systematic reviews say?

Adults: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course

Adults: higher dose/longer course showed no clear difference in re‐admission in compared with lower dose/shorter course (low certainty).

• Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.35 [0.38, 4.79]
  4 studies · 142 participants
  Low

Adults: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course

• Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 44 participants
  Low

Adults: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course

Adults: higher dose/longer course showed no clear difference in asthma symptoms Complete resolution by day 28 compared with lower dose/shorter course (low certainty).

• Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.55 [0.13, 2.26]
  1 study · 35 participants
  Low

Adults: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course

It is very uncertain whether adults: higher dose/longer course changes new exacerbation in compared with lower dose/shorter course (very low certainty).

• Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.98 [0.17, 5.56]
  2 studies · 55 participants
  Very low
• Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.62 [0.23, 1.68]
  3 studies · 122 participants
  Low

Adults: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course

• Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 41 participants
  Very low

Adults: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course

It is very uncertain whether adults: higher dose/longer course changes all adverse events compared with lower dose/shorter course (very low certainty).

• Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 4.15 [0.94, 18.41]
  1 study · 43 participants
  Very low

Children: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course

• Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 98 participants
  Very low

Children: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course

Children: higher dose/longer course showed no clear difference in asthma symptoms Symptom free by 7 days compared with lower dose/shorter course (moderate certainty).

• Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.22 [0.67, 2.19]
  1 study · 201 participants
  Moderate

Children: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course

• Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 201 participants
  GRADE not reported

Children: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course

Children: higher dose/longer course showed no clear difference in new exacerbation during compared with lower dose/shorter course (low certainty).

• Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.38 [0.25, 7.47]
  2 studies · 231 participants
  Low
• Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 2.17 [0.67, 7.01]
  1 study · 100 participants
  Very low

Children: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course

• Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 34 participants
  GRADE not reported

Children: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course

Children: higher dose/longer course showed no clear difference in all adverse events compared with lower dose/shorter course (moderate certainty).

• Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.67 [0.11, 4.08]
  1 study · 201 participants
  Moderate