Comparison 13. Moderate vs Low ICS Dose (Device).

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 DPI	2	84	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.37 [‐0.06, 0.81]
1.2 pMDI	3	452	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.07 [‐0.12, 0.25]
1.3 Nebuliser	0	0	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
2 Morning PEF (L/min) change baseline	5		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.1 DPI	2	126	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	10.54 [‐5.86, 26.95]
2.2 pMDI	3	285	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	11.46 [‐0.75, 23.68]
2.3 Nebuliser	0	0	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
3 Evening PEF (L/min) change from baseline	3		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
3.1 DPI	1	111	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [‐18.81, 18.81]
3.2 pMDI	2	130	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	6.22 [‐6.36, 18.80]
3.3 Nebuliser	0	0	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
4 PEF Diurnal Variation change from baseline	2		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
4.1 DPI	2	126	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.28 [‐0.63, 0.07]
4.2 pMDI	0	0	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
4.3 Nebuliser	0	0	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
5 Symptom Score change baseline	2		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
5.1 DPI	1	15	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.70 [‐1.26, ‐0.14]
5.2 pMDI	1	60	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.03 [‐0.15, 0.21]
5.3 Nebuliser	0	0	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
6 Symptom (Night Waking) change from baseline	3		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
6.1 DPI	0	0	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
6.2 pMDI	3	285	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.29 [‐0.53, ‐0.06]
6.3 Nebuliser	0	0	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
7 Rescue Medications (no. of puffs) change baseline	4		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
7.1 DPI	1	15	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.4 [‐1.23, 0.43]
7.2 pMDI	3	452	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.28 [‐1.24, 0.67]
7.3 Nebuliser	0	0	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
8 Withdrawal due to Adverse Event	3		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
8.1 DPI	1	130	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.71 [0.16, 3.03]
8.2 pMDI	2	393	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.26 [0.40, 4.00]
8.3 Nebuliser	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
9 Adverse Events	4		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
9.1 DPI	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
9.2 pMDI	4	523	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.04 [0.93, 1.17]
9.3 Nebuliser	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
10 Oral Candidiasis	2		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
10.1 DPI	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
10.2 pMDI	2	311	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.90 [0.34, 2.39]
10.3 Nebuliser	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
11 Exacerbations	2		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
11.1 DPI	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
11.2 pMDI	2	393	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.82 [0.47, 1.43]
11.3 Nebuliser	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
12 Plasma Cortisol below reference range	2		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
12.1 DPI	1	162	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.49 [0.13, 1.88]
12.2 pMDI	1	237	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.68 [0.29, 1.61]
12.3 Nebuliser	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]