Combination treatment with inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting bronchodilators
| Author | Year | Treatment | Patients | FEV1 % pred | Exac.·Patient·yr−1 | Δ% | p-value |
| Calverley [8] | 2003 | BUD/FOR 320/9 µg b.i.d.# | 254 | 36 | 0.63 | −24 | 0.001 |
| Placebo | 256 | 36 | 1.14¶ | ||||
| Szafranski [9] | 2003 | BUD/FOR 160/4.5 µg b.i.d.# | 208 | 36 | 1.42 | −24 | 0.035 |
| Placebo | 205 | 36 | 1.87 | ||||
| Calverley [10] | 2003 | FLUT/SALM 500/50 µg b.i.d. | 372 | 45 | 0.46 | −39 | 0.0001 |
| Placebo | 361 | 44 | 0.76¶ |
FEV1: forced expiratory volume in one second; % pred: % predicted; Exac: exacerbations; BUD: budesonide; FOR: formoterol; FLUT: fluticasone; SALM: salmeterol. #: exacerbations requiring delivered doses; ¶: exacerbations requiring oral steroid treatment.