What do systematic reviews say?

As‐required FABA/ICS inhalers vs as‐required FABA inhalers

As‐required FABA/ICS inhalers leads to lower asthma exacerbation requiring systemic steroid compared with as‐required FABA inhalers (high certainty).

• Combination fixed‐dose beta agonist and steroid inhaler as required for adults or children with mild asthma 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.45
  2 studies · 2997 participants
  High

As‐required FABA/ICS inhalers vs as‐required FABA inhalers

As‐required FABA/ICS inhalers may leads to lower hospital admission, ED and urgent care visits compared with as‐required FABA inhalers (low certainty).

• Combination fixed‐dose beta agonist and steroid inhaler as required for adults or children with mild asthma 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.35
  2 studies · 2997 participants
  Low

As‐required FABA/ICS inhalers vs as‐required FABA inhalers

• Combination fixed‐dose beta agonist and steroid inhaler as required for adults or children with mild asthma 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 2859 participants
  Moderate

As‐required FABA/ICS inhalers vs as‐required FABA inhalers

• Combination fixed‐dose beta agonist and steroid inhaler as required for adults or children with mild asthma 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 2554 participants
  Moderate

As‐required FABA/ICS inhalers vs as‐required FABA inhalers

• Combination fixed‐dose beta agonist and steroid inhaler as required for adults or children with mild asthma 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 443 participants
  Low

As‐required FABA/ICS inhalers vs as‐required FABA inhalers

As‐required FABA/ICS inhalers probably leads to lower adverse events compared with as‐required FABA inhalers (moderate certainty).

• Combination fixed‐dose beta agonist and steroid inhaler as required for adults or children with mild asthma 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.82 [0.71, 0.95]
  2 studies · 3002 participants
  Moderate

As‐required FABA/ICS inhalers vs regular inhaled steroid

• Combination fixed‐dose beta agonist and steroid inhaler as required for adults or children with mild asthma 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 7180 participants
  Moderate

As‐required FABA/ICS inhalers vs regular inhaled steroid

• Combination fixed‐dose beta agonist and steroid inhaler as required for adults or children with mild asthma 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 1330 participants
  Moderate

As‐required FABA/ICS inhalers vs regular inhaled steroid

As‐required FABA/ICS inhalers showed no clear difference in adverse events compared with regular inhaled steroid (moderate certainty).

• Combination fixed‐dose beta agonist and steroid inhaler as required for adults or children with mild asthma 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.96 [0.82, 1.14]
  4 studies · 8072 participants
  Moderate

As‐required FABA/ICS inhalers vs regular inhaled steroid

As‐required FABA/ICS inhalers showed no clear difference in exacerbations requiring systemic steroid compared with regular inhaled steroid (low certainty).

• Combination fixed‐dose beta agonist and steroid inhaler as required for adults or children with mild asthma 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.79 [0.59, 1.07]
  4 studies · 8065 participants
  Low

As‐required FABA/ICS inhalers vs regular inhaled steroid

As‐required FABA/ICS inhalers may leads to lower hospital admission, ED and urgent care visits compared with regular inhaled steroid (low certainty).

• Combination fixed‐dose beta agonist and steroid inhaler as required for adults or children with mild asthma 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.63 [0.44, 0.91]
  4 studies · 8065 participants
  Low

As‐required FABA/ICS inhalers vs regular inhaled steroid

• Combination fixed‐dose beta agonist and steroid inhaler as required for adults or children with mild asthma 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 7382 participants
  High