A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 13 studies with a total of 506 subjects with cystic fibrosis (aged between 6 and 55 years). A pooled analysis of any treatment outcome was not possible. One trial was a withdrawal study in individuals who were already taking inhaled corticosteroids (ICS); replacing the ICS with placebo was found to be safe as there was no significant increase in lung-related adverse effects leading to withdrawal from the trial, nor an increased need for oral corticosteroids. The intervention studies did not conclusively demonstrate significant benefits with the use of ICS. Four trials systematically documented adverse effects and growth was significantly affected in one study using high doses.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (unclear allocation concealment), by inconsistency (heterogeneity in interventions and outcomes), and by imprecise results (limited study size for each comparison).
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