Summarized design and outcomes of type 1 growth studies (i.e. inhaled corticosteroids compared with placebo)
| First author [ref. no.] | Treatment groups and number of patients | Severity of asthma | Age and sexual maturity of patients at baseline | Inclusion criteria for height and growth velocity | Permitted therapy (other than study treatment) | Main study outcomes |
| Allen 11 | FP 100 µg·day−1 (n=85); FP 200 µg·day−1 (n=96); PBO (n=87) | Mild-moder ate (FEV1≥60% pred) | Boys 4–11 yrs, girls 4–9 yrs; prepubertal | Height centiles 5–95; growth centiles 10–97 | ≤2 courses of oral CS, as-needed albuterol | No significant intergroup differences in GV: p=0.380 overall. Treatment differences in GV were −0.21 cm and −0.42 cm for FP 100 and 200 µg·day−1 respectively, compared with PBO |
| Jonasson 12 | BUD 100 µg·day−1 or 200 µg·day−1 (n=68); PBO (n=21) | Mild | 7–16 yrs | Not specified | As-needed terbutaline, ≤2 courses of oral CS in any 6-month period | Significantly reduced GV with BUD than PBO after month 12 in 7–11 yrs old (inter-group differences 1.09–1.49 cm·yr−1, p<0.001) |
| Simons 10 | BDP 400 µg·day−1 (n=67); salmeterol 100 µg·day−1 (n=58); PBO (n=55) | Mild-moder ate (FEV1≥70% pred) | 6–14 yrs | Not specified | Cromones, theophylline, as-needed salbutamol | Signifiantly reduced GV with BDP (3.96 cm·yr−1) versus PBO (5.04 cm·yr−1, p=0.018) |
FP: flutieasone propionate
BUD: budesonide
BDP: beclomethasone dipropconate
PBO: placebo
FEV1: forced expiratory volume in one second
CS: corticosteroid
GV: growth velocity