Table 1 Characteristic of the included trials

Boushey HA 2005 [8]

T: 33.6 ± 11.1

T: 47/29

T: Z 20 mg + IP bid

IB 800 ug bid × 10D or prednisone × 5D if asthma worsened

> 90

≥ 70

4 weeks

48 weeks

First-line/add-on

C1: 33.2 ± 9.5

C1: 48/25

C1: IB 200 ug + OP bid

C2: 32.0 ± 10.5

C2: 43/33

C2: IP + OP bid

Huang CJ 2003 [9]

T: 58.6 ± 3.0

T: 8/9

T: Z 20 mg bid

IB (≥ 400 μg/day or equivalent) + SABA

NR

Moderate

2 weeks

4 weeks

Add-on

C: 56.9 ± 2.8

C: 7/7

C: Placebo 20 mg bid

Brabson JH 2002 [10]

T: 35 ± 16

T: 141/75

T: Z 20 mg bid

Albuterol as needed

≥ 88

60-85

8 days

6 weeks

First-line

C: 36 ± 14

C: 134/90

C: IFP 88 ug bid

Nathan RA 2001 [11]

T: 32

T: 65/85

T: Z 20 mg bid

Albuterol as needed

NR

50-80

7-14 days

4 weeks

First-line

C: 31

C: 79/65

C: Fluticasone 88 ug bid

Busse W 2001 [12]

T: 12-75

T: NR

T: Z 20 mg + IP bid

Albuterol as needed, or oral or parental corticosteriods for AE

NR

50-80

8-14 days

12 weeks

First-line/add-on

C: 12-75

C: NR

C1: IFP 88 ug + OP bid

C2: IP + OP bid

Kim KT 2000 [13]

T: 32.9

T: 127/89

T: Z 20 mg + IP bid

Albuterol as needed

88

60- 85

1 week

6 weeks

First-line

C: 35.5

C: 135/86

C: IFP 88 ug bid

Virchow JCJr 2000 [14]

T: 47.4 ± 12.6

T: 85/95

T: Z 80 mg bid

Beclomethasone ≥ 1200 ug/day or equivalent) + SABA

T: 95

50-75

2 weeks

6 weeks

Add-on

C: 49.2 ± 12.9

C: 98/90

C: Placebo 80 mg bid

C: 94

Bleecker ER 2000 [15]

T: 31

T: 113/107

T: Z 20 mg bid

Albuterol as needed

92

50-80

8-14 days

12 weeks

First-line

C: 31

C: 112/119

C: IFP 88 ug bid

Busse W 1999 [16]

T: 36.9

T: 85/60

T: Z 20 mg bid

Albuterol as needed

NR

50-80

7-14 days

4 week

First-line

C: 38.6

C: 77/67

C: SX 42 ug bid

Nathan RA 1998 [17]

T: 33.2

T: 127/104

T: Z 20 mg bid

SABA as needed

NR

45-80

2-3 weeks

13 weeks

First-line

C: 32.1

C: 132/91

C: Placebo 20 mg bid

Fish JE 1997 [18]

T: > 12

T: 220/294

T: Z 20 mg bid

Albuterol as needed

NR

> 55

7-14 days

13 weeks

First-line

C: > 12

C: 102/146

C: Placebo 20 mg bid

Spector SL 1994 [19]

T: Z1: 37, Z2: 35, Z3: 36, C: 36

T: Z1: 18/52, Z2: 23/45, Z3: 18/50, C: 20/50

T: Z1: 20 mg bid, Z2: 10 mg bid, Z3: 5 mg bid, C: Placebo bid

Albuterol as needed

NR

40-75

2 weeks

6 weeks

First-line