What do systematic reviews say?

ICS dose reduction vs no change

It is very uncertain whether ICS dose reduction changes exacerbation requiring OCS compared with no change (very low certainty).

• Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.86 [0.16, 21.09]
  2 studies · 261 participants
  Very low
• Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.31 [0.82, 2.08]
  2 studies · 569 participants
  Low

ICS dose reduction vs no change

ICS dose reduction showed no clear difference in all‐cause SAEs compared with no change (low certainty).

• Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.6 [0.11, 3.33]
  2 studies · 569 participants
  Low
• Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.24 [0.25, 6.25]
  2 studies · 742 participants
  Low

ICS dose reduction vs no change

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

ICS dose reduction vs no change

• Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 229 participants
  Low

ICS dose reduction vs no change

ICS dose reduction showed no clear difference in exacerbation requiring hospitalisation compared with no change (low certainty).

• Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 4.06 [0.45, 36.86]
  2 studies · 569 participants
  Low

ICS dose reduction vs no change

• Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 14 participants
  Very low

ICS dose reduction vs no change

• Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 150 participants
  Low

ICS dose reduction vs no change

It is very uncertain whether ICS dose reduction changes steroid‐related AEs compared with no change (very low certainty).

• Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.76 [0.16, 3.54]
  2 studies · 261 participants
  Very low

ICS dose reduction vs no change

• Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 554 participants
  Very low

ICS dose reduction vs no change

• Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 261 participants
  Low

ICS dose reduction vs no change

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

ICS dose reduction vs no change

• Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 242 participants
  Low