Increased versus stable doses of inhaled corticosteroids for exacerbations of chronic asthma in adults and children.

Cochrane Library Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews Increased versus stable doses of inhaled corticosteroids for exacerbations of chronic asthma in adults and children (Review) Kew KM, Quinn M, Quon BS, Ducharme FM Kew KM, Quinn M, Quon BS, Ducharme FM. Increased versus stable doses of inhaled corticosteroids for exacerbations of chronic asthma in adults and children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016, Issue 6. Art. No.: CD007524. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007524.pub4. www.cochranelibrary.com Increased versus stable doses of inhaled corticosteroids for exacerbations of chronic asthma in adults and children (Review) Copyright © 2016 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Cochrane Library Trusted evidence. Informed decisions. Better health. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews TABLE OF CONTENTS HEADER......................................................................................................................................................................................................... ABSTRACT..................................................................................................................................................................................................... PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY....................................................................................................................................................................... SUMMARY OF FINDINGS.............................................................................................................................................................................. BACKGROUND.............................................................................................................................................................................................. OBJECTIVES.................................................................................................................................................................................................. METHODS..................................................................................................................................................................................................... RESULTS........................................................................................................................................................................................................ Figure 1.................................................................................................................................................................................................. Figure 2.................................................................................................................................................................................................. DISCUSSION.................................................................................................................................................................................................. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS........................................................................................................................................................................... ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................................................................................................................ REFERENCES................................................................................................................................................................................................ CHARACTERISTICS OF STUDIES.................................................................................................................................................................. DATA AND ANALYSES.................................................................................................................................................................................... Analysis 1.1. Comparison 1 Increased versus stable doses of ICS, Outcome 1 Treatment failure - need for systemic corticosteroids (primary outcome, all randomised participants)................................................................................................................................ Analysis 1.2. Comparison 1 Increased versus stable doses of ICS, Outcome 2 Treatment failure - need for systemic corticosteroids (of those starting inhaler)..................................................................................................................................................................... Analysis 1.3. Comparison 1 Increased versus stable doses of ICS, Outcome 3 Unscheduled physician visits................................. Analysis 1.4. Comparison 1 Increased versus stable doses of ICS, Outcome 4 Unscheduled acute care, ED visit or hospital admission............................................................................................................................................................................................... Analysis 1.5. Comparison 1 Increased versus stable doses of ICS, Outcome 5 Duration of exacerbation........................................ Analysis 1.6. Comparison 1 Increased versus stable doses of ICS, Outcome 6 Serious and non-serious adverse events............... Analysis 2.1. Comparison 2 Primary outcome subgroup and sensitivity analyses, Outcome 1 Subgrouped by age....................... Analysis 2.2. Comparison 2 Primary outcome subgroup and sensitivity analyses, Outcome 2 Subgrouped by time to treatment initiation................................................................................................................................................................................................. Analysis 2.3. Comparison 2 Primary outcome subgroup and sensitivity analyses, Outcome 3 Subgrouped by maintenance ICS dose........................................................................................................................................................................................................ Analysis 2.4. Comparison 2 Primary outcome subgroup and sensitivity analyses, Outcome 4 Subgrouped by ICS dose during exacerbation.......................................................................................................................................................................................... Analysis 2.5. Comparison 2 Primary outcome subgroup and sensitivity analyses, Outcome 5 Subgrouped by ICS fold increase..... Analysis 2.6. Comparison 2 Primary outcome subgroup and sensitivity analyses, Outcome 6 Sensitivity analysis: parallel-group studies only............................................................................................................................................................................................ Analysis 2.7. Comparison 2 Primary outcome (...truncated)