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Evidence summaries

Inhaled Vs Oral Steroids for Adults with Bronchial Asthma

Inhaled corticosteroids appear to be as effective as a daily dose of 7.5 to 10 mg of prednisolone, probably with fewer adverse effects. Level of evidence: "B"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 10 small trials. No data could be pooled. Data from six trials produced the same pattern, in which prednisolone 7.5 to 12 mg/day appeared to be as effective as inhaled steroid 300-2000 µg/day. In two trials, inhaled steroids 300-400 µg/day was more effective than prednisolone 5 mg/day. All doses of inhaled corticosteroids appeared to be more effective than alternate day prednisolon up to 60 mg on alternate days.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by sparse data.

The following decision support rules contain links to this evidence summary:

References

  • Mash B, Bheekie A, Jones PW. Inhaled vs oral steroids for adults with chronic asthma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2001;(1):CD002160 [Last assessed as up-to-date: 31 July 2008]. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords