In asthma, ICSs represent the cornerstone of treatment, since they are the most effective controller medications currently available. These drugs exert an inhibitory effect on many aspects of the chronic inflammation underlying the disease, also influencing the airway remodelling process.

On the contrary, in COPD, since ICSs are not able to appropriately suppress the lung inflammation, their role in therapy is currently limited to patients with severe and very severe disease and history of exacerbations.