Aaronson 1998.

Methods	Setting: multicentre study, USA, hospital outpatient clinic Randomisation: yes, method not stated Allocation concealment: unclear Design: parallel group Length of intervention period: 6 weeks Masking: double blind, double dummy Excluded: not stated Withdrawals: stated Baseline characteristics: comparable Jadad score: 3
Participants	64 adults: 49M 15F Age range: 18‐56 years Inclusion criteria: Adults patients with diagnosis of asthma (not otherwise defined) FEV1 (% predicted) 65 or greater Able to use Turbuhaler effectively and achieve inspiratory flow rate of at least 50 litres/min Exclusion criteria: Hospitalization due to asthma or respiratory tract infection in last 4 weeks Serious concurrent illness Any corticosteroid therapy in last 6 months or investigational drug in last 4 weeks Significantly abnormal cortisol levels (basal or post cosyntropin) Pregnancy/lactation Baseline asthma control Symptom frequency: not stated FEV1 (% predicted): >65
Interventions	1. BUD 200 mcg 2 pfs 2xdaily (800 mcg/d) via Turbuhaler DPI 2. BUD 400 mcg 2pfs 2xdaily (1600 mcg/d) via Turbuhaler DPI 3. BUD 800 mcg 2 pfs 2xdaily (3200 mcg/d) via Turbuhaler DPI all with placebo tablet 1xdaily to maintain blinding
Outcomes	Basal plasma cortisol Plasma cortisol at 6 hours following continuous iv cosyntropin infusion, 0.25 mg/500 ml saline over 6 hours Withdrawal due to asthma exacerbation
Notes	No reply from author to clarify details of randomisation method. Placebo and oral prednisolone intervention groups were also studies: results not considered here.
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Allocation concealment?	Unclear risk	B ‐ Unclear