Trials N Age (yrs) % Predicted FEV1 Between exacerbations* During exacerbations† Duration (Weeks) Maintenance ICS Maintenance ICS Intermittent ICS 4-fold ICS step-up in both groups Turpeinen et al. [14] 116 7 77% BUD 200 μg/day BUD 800 μg/day BUD 800 μg/day 52 Boushey et al. [10] 149 33 89% BUD 400 μg/day BUD 1600 μg/day BUD 1600 μg/day 52 4-fold ICS step-up only in intermittent group Zeiger et al. [12] 278 NR§ NR BUD 500 μg/day BUD 500 μg/day BUD 2000 μg/day 52 ICS+β2-agonist in both groups‡ Martinez et al. [13] 143 11 101% BDP 100 μg/day BDP 100 μg/day + BDP 100 μg and rescue albuterol prn BDP 100 μg and rescue albuterol prn 44 ICS+β2-agonist in the intermittent group only‡ Papi et al. [11] 220 2 NR BDP 800 μg/day BDP 800 μg/day BDP 800 µg and salbutamol 1600 μg nebule prn 12 Martinez et al. [13] 71 11 102% BDP 100 μg/day BDP 100 μg/day BDP 100 μg and rescue albuterol prn 44 Papi et al. [15] 234 38 88% BDP 500 μg/day BDP 500 μg/day BDP 500 μg/day  and albuterol 100 μg prn 24 N=Number of patients in treatment groups of interest; FEV1=Forced expired volume in one second; BDP=Beclomethasone dipropionate; BUD=Budesonide; NR=Not reported. *Maintenance corticosteroids were inhaled [10,13-15] or nebulized [11,12] †All trials recommended the use of rescue β2-agonist as-needed. All trials tested one of four strategies during exacerbations: a 4-fold ICS step-up in both groups [10,14] or only in the intermittent group [12], the use of ICS whenever β2-agonist was needed in both groups [13] or only in the intermittent group [11,13,15]. ICS and β2-agonist could be administered in separate inhalers [13], in the same inhaler [15] or separate [12] or same [11] nebule. §Age was reported as 12 to 52 months.

Table 1: Characteristics of included trials.

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