What do systematic reviews say?

Any ICS vs oral corticosteroid

Any ICS showed no clear difference in hospital admission compared with oral corticosteroid (moderate certainty).

• Inhaled steroids for acute asthma following emergency department discharge 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.31 [0.01, 7.95]
  3 studies · 254 participants
  Moderate

Any ICS vs oral corticosteroid

Any ICS showed no clear difference in hoarseness at 16 to 21 days compared with oral corticosteroid (low certainty).

• Inhaled steroids for acute asthma following emergency department discharge 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.62 [0.52, 5.05]
  1 study · 412 participants
  Low

Aminophylline vs placebo

Aminophylline showed no clear difference in PEF (L/min) ‐ at 60 min compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Addition of intravenous aminophylline to inhaled beta₂‐agonists in adults with acute asthma 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  MD 6.24
  6 studies · 302 participants
  Low

Aminophylline vs placebo

Aminophylline showed no clear difference in hospital admissions compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Addition of intravenous aminophylline to inhaled beta₂‐agonists in adults with acute asthma 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.58 [0.3, 1.12]
  6 studies · 315 participants
  Moderate

Aminophylline vs placebo

Aminophylline showed no clear difference in tremor compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Addition of intravenous aminophylline to inhaled beta₂‐agonists in adults with acute asthma 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 2.6 [0.62, 11.02]
  5 studies · 249 participants
  Low

Aminophylline vs placebo

Aminophylline probably leads to higher vomiting compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Addition of intravenous aminophylline to inhaled beta₂‐agonists in adults with acute asthma 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 4.21 [2.2, 8.07]
  7 studies · 321 participants
  Moderate

Aminophylline vs placebo

Aminophylline probably leads to higher arrhythmia/palpitations compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Addition of intravenous aminophylline to inhaled beta₂‐agonists in adults with acute asthma 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 3.02 [1.15, 7.9]
  6 studies · 249 participants
  Moderate

Aminophylline vs placebo

• Addition of intravenous aminophylline to inhaled beta₂‐agonists in adults with acute asthma 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 21 participants
  Moderate

Asthma Clinics (Intervention) vs controls

It is very uncertain whether asthma Clinics (Intervention) changes A&E visits Number of people experiencing one or more A&E visit compared with controls (very low certainty).

• Primary care based clinics for asthma 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.03 [0.21, 5.15]
  2 studies · 344 participants
  Very low

Asthma Clinics (Intervention) vs controls

• Primary care based clinics for asthma 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 271 participants
  GRADE not reported

Asthma Clinics (Intervention) vs controls

Asthma Clinics (Intervention) showed no clear difference in hospital admissions Number of people experiencing one or more… compared with controls (low certainty).

• Primary care based clinics for asthma 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.32 [0.09, 1.21]
  2 studies · 344 participants
  Low

Asthma Clinics (Intervention) vs controls

• Primary care based clinics for asthma 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 263 participants
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

The intervention probably leads to lower readmission to hospital, inpatient. Number of people experiencing… (moderate certainty).

• Hospital at home for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.76 [0.59, 0.99]
  8 studies · 870 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in mortality ( (moderate certainty).

• Hospital at home for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.65 [0.4, 1.04]
  7 studies · 845 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in patient satisfaction Number of people stating to be very satisfied… (low certainty).

• Hospital at home for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.06 [0.96, 1.17]
  2 studies · 158 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

It is very uncertain whether the intervention changes carer satisfaction Number of carers stating to be very satisfied… (very low certainty).

• Hospital at home for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.97 [0.79, 1.19]
  1 study · 34 participants
  Very low

Intervention not reported

• Hospital at home for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 432 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

• Hospital at home for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 332 participants
  Very low

Intervention not reported

• Hospital at home for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 339 participants
  Very low

Intervention not reported

• Monosodium glutamate avoidance for chronic asthma in adults and children 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  Very low