Comparison 2. Intermittent ICS versus placebo ‐ preschool children.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Exacerbations requiring oral corticosteroids	4		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
1.1 Preschool children	4	490	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.48 [0.31, 0.73]
2 Serious adverse events	3		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.1 Preschool children	3	439	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.42 [0.17, 1.02]
3 Quality of life (PedsQL total score)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
3.1 Preschool children	1	143	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	3.28 [‐2.13, 8.69]
4 Participants with one or more exacerbations	2		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
4.1 Preschool children	2	184	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.62 [0.33, 1.20]
5 Hospitalisations (all cause)	3		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
5.1 Preschool children	3	327	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.73 [0.23, 2.29]
6 Day time asthma score	3		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
6.1 Preschool children	3	364	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.35 [‐0.57, ‐0.13]
7 Night time asthma score	3		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
7.1 Preschool children	3	364	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.28 [‐0.50, ‐0.06]
8 Withdrawals (total)	4		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
8.1 Preschool children	4	493	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.67 [0.37, 1.19]
9 Adverse events	1		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
9.1 Preschool children	1	166	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.86 [0.42, 1.75]
10 Hoarseness of voice	1		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
10.1 Preschool children	1	55	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.15 [0.03, 0.80]
11 Pneumonia	1		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
11.1 Preschool children	1	129	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.66 [0.68, 4.08]
12 Growth (change in height in cm)	2		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
12.1 Preschool children	2	263	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.12 [‐0.41, 0.65]
13 Growth (change in weight in kg)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
13.1 Preschool children	1	123	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.64 [‐1.17, ‐0.11]
14 Exacerbations requiring oral corticosteroids ‐ subgroup analysis in preschool children	4		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
14.1 High dose inhaled therapy	2	181	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.45 [0.25, 0.83]
14.2 Nebulised therapy	2	309	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.50 [0.27, 0.92]
15 Serious adverse events ‐ subgroup analysis in preschool children	3		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
15.1 High dose inhaled therapy	1	129	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.44 [0.13, 1.52]
15.2 Nebulised therapy	2	310	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.39 [0.11, 1.39]