A systematic review including 10 studies with a total of 1,922 subjects was abstracted in DARE. Twice-daily budesonide was associated with a slightly favourable FEV1, although this was not statistically significant (SMD 0.09, 95% CI: -0.09 to 0.27). No evidence of statistical heterogeneity was found. Twice-daily budesonide was associated with a slightly favourable PEF, although this was not statistically significant (SMD 0.07, 95% CI: -0.04 to 0.17). No evidence of statistical heterogeneity was found.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by methodological problems of the meta-analysis. The review was partly funded by AstraZeneca.