Comparison 3. BUD v Placebo: parallel studies, not on oral steroids: 1000 mcg/d or greater.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 FEV1 (litres)	2	56	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.04 [‐0.57, 0.49]
1.1 Children	0	0	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
1.2 Adults	2	56	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.04 [‐0.57, 0.49]
2 Number of night‐time wakenings due to asthma per week	1	30	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐3.70 [‐4.32, ‐3.08]
2.1 Children	0	0	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
2.2 Adults	1	30	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐3.70 [‐4.32, ‐3.08]
3 Withdrawal due to asthma exacerbation (No. of patients)	1	18	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.33 [0.02, 7.24]
3.1 Children	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
3.2 Adults	1	18	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.33 [0.02, 7.24]
4 Requirement for one or more courses or oral steroid for asthma exacerbation (No. of patients)	2	70	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.33 [0.04, 2.94]
4.1 Children	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
4.2 Adults	2	70	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.33 [0.04, 2.94]
5 Plasma cortisol 6 hours post cosyntropin infusion (nmol/L)	1	22	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	82.0 [‐77.11, 241.11]
5.1 Children	0	0	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
5.2 Adults	1	22	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	82.0 [‐77.11, 241.11]