Comparison 1. Adults: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Re‐admission during follow‐up period	4		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
1.1 Longer vs shorter course prednisolone	4	142	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.35 [0.38, 4.79]
2 Asthma symptoms: asthma severity score	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.1 Longer vs shorter course prednisolone	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
3 Asthma symptoms: complete resolution	1		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
3.1 Longer vs shorter course prednisolone	1		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
4 New exacerbation during follow‐up period: requiring visit to healthcare provider	4		Risk Difference (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
4.1 Longer vs shorter course prednisolone	2	55	Risk Difference (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.00 [‐0.14, 0.14]
4.2 Stable vs tapered prednisolone	2	41	Risk Difference (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.09 [‐0.07, 0.26]
5 New exacerbation during follow‐up period: oral corticosteroids prescribed	3	122	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.62 [0.23, 1.68]
5.1 Longer vs shorter course prednisolone	3	122	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.62 [0.23, 1.68]
6 Lung function tests: trough PEFR	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
6.1 Longer vs shorter prednisolone (trough PEFR)	2	79	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐4.81 [‐45.82, 36.20]
7 Lung function tests: FEV1% predicted	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
7.1 Stable vs tapered prednisolone (FEV1% predicted)	2	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.02 [‐4.62, 2.58]
8 Lung function tests: number of participants achieving personal best at 4 weeks	1		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
8.1 Longer vs shorter course prednisolone	1		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
9 All adverse events	1		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
9.1 Longer vs shorter course prednisolone	1		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]