Comparison 9. Moderate vs Low ICS Dose (ICS Type).

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 FEV1 change from baseline	5		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
1.1 BUD	2	84	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.37 [‐0.06, 0.81]
1.2 FP	2	215	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.07 [‐0.20, 0.34]
1.3 BDP	1	237	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.07 [‐0.19, 0.32]
2 Morning PEF (L/min) change baseline	5		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.1 BUD	3	196	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	10.69 [‐2.78, 24.16]
2.2 FP	2	215	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	11.63 [‐2.64, 25.91]
3 Evening PEF (L/min) change from baseline	3		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
3.1 BUD	2	181	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.52 [‐13.55, 12.51]
3.2 FP	1	60	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	13.00 [‐4.52, 30.52]
4 PEF Diurnal Variation change from baseline	2		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
4.1 BUD	2	126	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.28 [‐0.63, 0.07]
5 Symptom Score change baseline	2		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
5.1 BUD	1	15	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.70 [‐1.26, ‐0.14]
5.2 FP	1	60	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.03 [‐0.15, 0.21]
6 Symptoms (night waking) change from baseline	3		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
6.1 BUD	1	70	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [‐0.47, 0.47]
6.2 FP	2	215	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.39 [‐0.66, ‐0.12]
7 Rescue Medications (no. of puffs) change baseline	4		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
7.1 BUD	1	15	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.4 [‐1.23, 0.43]
7.2 FP	2	215	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.28 [‐1.29, 0.73]
7.3 BDP	1	237	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.32 [‐3.29, 2.65]
8 Withdrawal due to Adverse Event	3		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
8.1 BUD	1	130	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.71 [0.16, 3.03]
8.2 FP	1	156	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.32 [0.37, 4.72]
8.3 BDP	1	237	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.03 [0.06, 16.21]
9 Adverse Events	4		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
9.1 BUD	1	70	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
9.2 FP	2	216	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.08 [0.93, 1.27]
9.3 BDP	1	237	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.01 [0.86, 1.20]
10 Oral Candidiasis	2		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
10.1 BUD	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
10.2 FP	2	311	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.90 [0.34, 2.39]
11 Exacerbations	2		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
11.1 BUD	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
11.2 FP	1	156	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.75 [0.42, 1.35]
11.3 BDP	1	237	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.54 [0.26, 9.04]
12 Plasma Cortisol below reference range	2		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
12.1 BUD	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
12.2 FP	1	162	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.49 [0.13, 1.88]
12.3 BDP	1	237	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.68 [0.29, 1.61]