Table 1

Risk differences for long-acting beta-agonists (LABA) versus non-LABA for asthma related-deaths, deaths and intubations, hospitalisations, and the composite outcome, reported in the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) meta-analysis; data from Levenson table 5 and figure 1.23 Reprinted from Sears MR, CHEST 20095

All trials	LABA n/N^*	Non-LABA n/N^*	Risk difference^† (95% CI)
Risk differences for specific and composite outcomes
Asthma death	16/30 148	4/30 806	0.40 (0.11 to 0.69)
Death or intubation	44/30 148	27/30 806	0.57 (0.01 to 1.12)
Hospitalisation	369/30 148	299/30 806	2.57 (0.90 to 4.23)
Composite outcome (death, intubation or hospitalisation)	381/30 148	304/30 806	2.80 (1.11 to 4.49)
Composite outcome stratified by use or non-use of randomised (mandatory) ICS
Trials of LABA without randomised ICS v no LABA	350/22 286	279/24 474	3.63 (1.51 to 5.75)
Trials of LABA with randomised ICS v randomised ICS	31/7862	26/7330	0.25 (−1.69 to 2.18)

ICS, inhaled corticosteroid.
↵* n/N = number of events / number at risk.
↵† Risk difference (RD) = additional risk of outcome per 1000 subjects treated with LABA compared with no LABA; 0.0 indicates no increased risk.