What do systematic reviews say?

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

• Inhaled steroids with and without regular formoterol for asthma: serious adverse events 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  10 studies · 4035 participants
  Low

Regular formoterol and ICS vs same‐dose ICS

Regular formoterol and ICS showed no clear difference in all‐cause 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 1.33 [0.71, 2.49]
  10 studies · 4035 participants
  Moderate

Regular formoterol and ICS vs same‐dose ICS

• Inhaled steroids with and without regular formoterol for asthma: serious adverse events 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  10 studies · 4035 participants
  Low

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

Effects of different delivery devices on growth in children with persistent asthma: hydrofluoroalkane‐metered dose inhaler beclomethasone vs beclomethasone

Effects of different delivery devices on growth in children with… showed no clear difference in linear growth velocity (cm/year) compared with chlorofluorocarbon‐metered dose inhaler beclomethasone (low certainty).

• Inhaled corticosteroids in children with persistent asthma: effects of different drugs and delivery devices on growth 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 212 participants
  Low

Effects of different delivery devices on growth in children with persistent asthma: Easyhaler‐budesonide vs Turbuhaler‐budesonide

Effects of different delivery devices on growth in children with… may leads to higher change in height (cm) over a period of time compared with turbuhaler‐budesonide (low certainty).

• Inhaled corticosteroids in children with persistent asthma: effects of different drugs and delivery devices on growth 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  MD 0.37 [0.12, 0.62]
  1 study · 229 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in asthma‐related non‐fatal SAEc (moderate certainty).

• Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.25 [0.72, 2.16]
  8 studies · 8453 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in all‐cause mortality (moderate certainty).

• Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.8 [0.36, 1.78]
  41 studies · 27951 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in all‐cause non‐fatal SAEc (moderate certainty).

• Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.14 [0.97, 1.33]
  41 studies · 27951 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

• Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  41 studies · 27951 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in asthma‐related non‐fatal SAEc (low certainty).

• Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.15 [0.83, 1.59]
  41 studies · 27951 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Intervention not reported

• Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  8 studies · 8453 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in all‐cause non‐fatal SAEc (moderate certainty).

• Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.04 [0.73, 1.48]
  8 studies · 8453 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

• Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  8 studies · 8453 participants
  Moderate

Once‐daily ICS/LABA combined inhalers vs once‐daily LAMA

It is very uncertain whether once‐daily ICS/LABA combined inhalers changes mortality (all‐cause) compared with once‐daily LAMA (very low certainty).

• Once‐daily long‐acting beta₂‐agonists/inhaled corticosteroids combined inhalers versus inhaled long‐acting muscarinic… 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.2 [0.02, 1.73]
  2 studies · 880 participants
  Very low

Once‐daily ICS/LABA combined inhalers vs once‐daily LAMA

It is very uncertain whether once‐daily ICS/LABA combined inhalers changes pneumonia compared with once‐daily LAMA (very low certainty).

• Once‐daily long‐acting beta₂‐agonists/inhaled corticosteroids combined inhalers versus inhaled long‐acting muscarinic… 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 6.12 [0.73, 51.24]
  2 studies · 880 participants
  Very low

Once‐daily ICS/LABA combined inhalers vs once‐daily LAMA

• Once‐daily long‐acting beta₂‐agonists/inhaled corticosteroids combined inhalers versus inhaled long‐acting muscarinic… 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 779 participants
  Very low