Ref (type)	Population	Outcome, Interventions	Results and statistical analysis	Effect size	Favours
Lung function
[65] Systematic review	1420 people with COPD 5 RCTs in this analysis	Improvement in pre-dose FEV1 up to 24 weeks with fluticasone plus salmeterol with placebo Absolute numbers not reported	WMD 0.16 L 95% CI 0.14 L to 0.19 L P <0.00001	Effect size not calculated	fluticasone plus salmeterol
[65] Systematic review	923 people with COPD 2 RCTs in this analysis	Improvement in FEV1 from baseline 12 months with budesonide plus formoterol with placebo Absolute numbers not reported	14.4% 95% CI 11.91% to 16.90% P <0.00001	Effect size not calculated	budesonide plus formoterol
[68] RCT 3-armed trial	224 people with COPD	Increase in pre-dose FEV1 percentage predicted 4 weeks 3.8% with fluticasone 500 micrograms plus salmeterol 50 micrograms twice daily 1.0% with placebo	P <0.05	Effect size not calculated	fluticasone plus salmeterol
[66] RCT 6-armed trial	1704 people with COPD	Improvement in pre-dose FEV1 6 months 0.09 L with budesonide 160 micrograms plus formoterol 4.5 micrograms in one metered-dose inhaler twice daily 0.07 L with budesonide 80 micrograms plus formoterol 4.5 micrograms in one metered-dose inhaler twice daily 0.08 L with budesonide 160 micrograms plus formoterol 4.5 micrograms in separate metered-dose inhalers twice daily 0.01 L with placebo	P <0.05 for all treatment arms v placebo	Effect size not calculated	budesonide plus formoterol
[67] RCT	445 Chinese people with COPD	Improvement in pre-dose FEV1 6 months 177 mL with salmeterol 50 micrograms plus fluticasone 500 micrograms 8 mL with placebo	P <0.001 for adjusted result (180 mL)	Effect size not calculated	salmeterol plus fluticasone