Comparison 2. Ciclesonide versus Beclomethasone or Budesonide (dose ratio 1:2).

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Change from baseline in FEV1	5	1633	L (Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.02 [‐0.05, 0.00]
1.1 Children	1	621	L (Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.02 [‐0.06, 0.02]
1.2 Adults	4	1012	L (Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.03 [‐0.06, 0.01]
2 Change from baseline in FVC	5	1637	L (Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.01 [‐0.04, 0.03]
2.1 Children	1	621	L (Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.02 [‐0.07, 0.02]
2.2 Adults	4	1016	L (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.02 [‐0.03, 0.07]
3 Change in clinic PEF	1		L/min (Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
3.1 Children	0		L/min (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
3.2 Adults	1		L/min (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
4 Change in am PEF	4	1423	L/min (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.07 [‐5.05, 5.19]
4.1 Children	1	621	L/min (Fixed, 95% CI)	‐2.3 [‐8.90, 4.30]
4.2 Adults	3	802	L/min (Fixed, 95% CI)	3.64 [‐4.47, 11.74]
5 Change in pm PEF	4	1423	L/min (Fixed, 95% CI)	3.29 [‐1.62, 8.19]
5.1 Children	1	621	L/min (Fixed, 95% CI)	3.3 [‐1.00, 9.60]
5.2 Adults	3	802	L/min (Fixed, 95% CI)	3.27 [‐4.54, 11.09]
6 Change in quality of life (Paediatric AQLQ)	2	1010	AQLQ (Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.00 [‐0.09, 0.09]
7 Adverse events	6	1912	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.04 [0.92, 1.17]
7.1 Children	1	621	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.00 [0.81, 1.24]
7.2 Adults	5	1291	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.06 [0.91, 1.23]
8 Worsening asthma	2	404	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.91 [0.49, 1.69]
8.1 Children	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
8.2 Adults	2	404	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.91 [0.49, 1.69]
9 Upper respiratory tract infection	6	1802	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.05 [0.75, 1.47]
9.1 Children	1	621	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.57 [0.28, 1.17]
9.2 Adults	5	1181	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.27 [0.86, 1.88]
10 Pharyngitis	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
10.1 Children	0		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
10.2 Adults	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
11 Rhinitis	2	404	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.37 [0.08, 1.62]
11.1 Children	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
11.2 Adults	2	404	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.37 [0.08, 1.62]
12 Oral candidiasis	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
12.1 Children	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
12.2 Adults	0		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
13 Withdrawals	4	1427	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.31 [0.82, 2.11]
13.1 Children	1	621	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.17 [0.83, 5.64]
13.2 Adults	3	806	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.06 [0.61, 1.84]
14 Withdrawals (lack of efficacy)	3	1024	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.45 [0.84, 7.13]
14.1 Children	1	621	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.96 [0.67, 13.09]
14.2 Adults	2	403	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.95 [0.42, 9.10]
15 Withdrawals (adverse events)	4	777	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.61 [0.96, 7.07]
15.1 Children	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
15.2 Adults	4	777	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.61 [0.96, 7.07]