Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

8 questions · 8 findings · 1 reviews · Airways

No studies found 1 · 12.5%GRADE not reported 0 · 0%Very low 0 · 0%Low 0 · 0%Moderate 7 · 87.5%High 0 · 0%

Outcomes* · chronic bronchitis or COPD

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Mucolytic agents versus placebo for chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
no estimate extracted
Studies not reported
No studies found

Participants with no exacerbations in study period · chronic bronchitis or COPD

Mucolytic probably leads to higher participants with no exacerbations in study period compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Mucolytic agents versus placebo for chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
Peto OR 1.73 [1.56, 1.91]
28 studies · 6723 participants
Moderate

Days of disability per participant per month · chronic bronchitis or COPD

1 finding from 1 review

Mucolytic agents versus placebo for chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
no estimate extracted
9 studies · 2259 participants
Moderate

SGRQ Total SGRQ (Total) Score. Scale from: 0 to 100. Lower score indicates better quality of life. · chronic bronchitis or COPD

1 finding from 1 review

Mucolytic agents versus placebo for chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
no estimate extracted
7 studies · 2721 participants
Moderate

Hospitalisation during study period · chronic bronchitis or COPD

Mucolytic probably leads to lower hospitalisation during study period compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Mucolytic agents versus placebo for chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
Peto OR 0.68 [0.52, 0.89]
5 studies · 1833 participants
Moderate

FEV₁at end of study · chronic bronchitis or COPD

1 finding from 1 review

Mucolytic agents versus placebo for chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
no estimate extracted
14 studies · 3473 participants
Moderate

Adverse effects · chronic bronchitis or COPD

Mucolytic probably leads to lower adverse effects compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Mucolytic agents versus placebo for chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
Peto OR 0.84 [0.74, 0.94]
24 studies · 7264 participants
Moderate

Death during study period · chronic bronchitis or COPD

Mucolytic showed no clear difference in death during study period compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Mucolytic agents versus placebo for chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
Peto OR 0.98 [0.51, 1.87]
11 studies · 3527 participants
Moderate