Regular formoterol and budesonide compared to regular salmeterol and fluticasone for chronic asthma.
Patient or population: patients with chronic asthma
Settings: regular treatment at home
Intervention: regular formoterol and budesonide
Comparison: regular salmeterol and fluticasone
| Outcomes | Illustrative comparative risks* (95% CI) | Relative effect (95% CI) | No of participants (studies) | Quality of the evidence (GRADE) | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assumed risk | Corresponding risk | |||||
| Regular salmeterol and fluticasone | Regular formoterol and budesonide | |||||
|
All-cause mortality - formoterol and budesonide vs salmeterol and fluticasone
Follow-up: mean 23 weeks |
0 per 1000 2 | 0 per 1000 (0 to 0) | OR 1.03 (0.06 to 16.44) | 5935 (7 studies) | ⊕⊕○○ low 1 | |
|
All-cause non-fatal serious adverse events - formoterol and budesonide vs salmeterol and fluticasone
Follow-up: mean 23 weeks |
23 per 1000 2 | 26 per 1000 (19 to 36) | OR 1.14 (0.82 to 1.59) | 5935 (7 studies) | ⊕⊕⊕○ moderate 3 | |
|
Asthma related non-fatal serious adverse events - formoterol and budesonide vs salmeterol and fluticasone
Follow-up: mean 23 weeks |
8 per 1000 2 | 6 per 1000 (3 to 10) | OR 0.69 (0.37 to 1.26) | 5935 (7 studies) | ⊕⊕○○ low 3,4 | |
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; OR: Odds 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.
Imprecision (−2): very wide confidence intervals.
Mean risk in the salmeterol/fluticasone arms of the trials.
Imprecision (−1): wide confidence intervals.
Study limitations (−1): no independent assessment of cause of serious adverse events.