Summary of findings 3. Ciclesonide versus fluticasone (dose ratio 1:2) for chronic asthma in children.
| Ciclesonide versus fluticasone (dose ratio 1:2) for chronic asthma in children | ||||||
| Patient or population: patients with chronic asthma in children Settings: all settings Intervention: ciclesonide Comparison: fluticasone (dose ratio 1:2) | ||||||
| Outcomes | Illustrative comparative risks* (95% CI) | Relative effect (95% CI) | No of participants (studies) | Quality of the evidence (GRADE) | Comments | |
| Assumed risk | Corresponding risk | |||||
| Fluticasone (dose ratio 1:2) | Ciclesonide | |||||
| Asthma symptom Asthma symptom score (scale 0 to 4) Follow‐up: 12 weeks | The mean asthma symptom in the control groups was 1.33 | The mean asthma symptom in the intervention groups was 0.07 higher (0.14 to 0.29 higher) | 482 (1 study) | ⊕⊕⊝⊝ low1,2 | Estimates are medians indicating data was skewed | |
| Patients with exacerbations Number of patients with exacerbations Follow‐up: 12 weeks | 20 per 1000 | 70 per 1000 (27 to 174) | RR 3.48 (1.35 to 8.71) | 502 (1 study) | ⊕⊝⊝⊝ very low1,2,3 | |
| Adverse events Number of patients with adverse events Follow‐up: 12 weeks | 476 per 1000 | 471 per 1000 (424 to 514) | RR 0.99 (0.89 to 1.08) | 502 (1 study) | ⊕⊝⊝⊝ very low1,2,3 | |
| *The basis for the assumed risk (e.g. the median control group risk across studies) is provided in footnotes. The corresponding risk (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI). CI: confidence interval; RR: risk ratio. | ||||||
| GRADE Working Group grades of evidence High quality: Further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect. Moderate quality: Further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate. Low quality: Further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate. Very low quality: We are very uncertain about the estimate. | ||||||
1 Based on one study that was underpowered for a non‐inferiority trial. 2 The study was sponsored by the manufacturer and at least one author was an employee of the manufacturer that sponsored the study. 3 The intervention period of 12 weeks is too short to expect any major changes in this outcome.