What do systematic reviews say?

Summary of findings ‐ Inhaled mannitol vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Inhaled hyperosmolar agents for bronchiectasis 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Inhaled corticosteroids plus standard care vs placebo or usual care

Inhaled corticosteroids plus standard care showed no clear difference in all‐cause mortality compared with standard care (with or without placebo) (low certainty).

• Inhaled corticosteroids for the treatment of COVID‐19 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.61 [0.22, 1.67]
  3 studies · 2132 participants
  Low

Inhaled corticosteroids vs placebo

Summary of findings table ‐ ICS showed no clear difference in mortality compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Inhaled corticosteroids versus placebo for stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.94 [0.84, 1.07]
  10 studies · 16636 participants
  Moderate

Hypertonic saline vs Normal saline

• Inhaled hyperosmolar agents for bronchiectasis 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 113 participants
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

The intervention leads to lower mortality (high certainty).

• Combined corticosteroid and long‐acting beta₂‐agonist in one inhaler versus inhaled corticosteroids alone for chronic… 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.78 [0.64, 0.94]
  12 studies · 7518 participants
  High

Regular formoterol and ICS vs same‐dose ICS

• Inhaled steroids with and without regular formoterol for asthma: serious adverse events 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  31 studies · 24022 participants
  Low

Children: formoterol/fluticasone vs regular salmeterol and fluticasone

• Regular treatment with formoterol and an inhaled corticosteroid versus regular treatment with salmeterol and an… 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 548 participants
  GRADE not reported

Regular formoterol and ICS vs same‐dose ICS

Regular formoterol and ICS showed no clear difference in all‐cause mortality compared with same‐dose ICS (moderate certainty).

• Inhaled steroids with and without regular formoterol for asthma: serious adverse events 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.25 [0.61, 2.56]
  32 studies · 35751 participants
  Moderate

Regular formoterol and ICS vs same‐dose ICS

• Inhaled steroids with and without regular formoterol for asthma: serious adverse events 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  10 studies · 4035 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

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

• Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.8 [0.36, 1.78]
  41 studies · 27951 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

• Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  8 studies · 8453 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in mortality, all‐cause (moderate certainty).

• Inhaled steroids and risk of pneumonia for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.9 [0.65, 1.24]
  12 studies · 10009 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in mortality, all‐cause (high certainty).

• Inhaled steroids and risk of pneumonia for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.99 [0.87, 1.13]
  22 studies · 20861 participants
  High

Triple therapy vs LABA/LAMA combination

Triple therapy may leads to lower mortality (all‐cause) compared with LABA/LAMA combination (low certainty).

• Inhaled corticosteroids with combination inhaled long‐acting beta2‐agonists and long‐acting muscarinic antagonists for… 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.7 [0.54, 0.9]
  4 studies · 15397 participants
  Low

Once‐daily ICS/LABA combined inhalers vs once‐daily LAMA

It is very uncertain whether once‐daily ICS/LABA combined inhalers changes mortality (all‐cause) compared with once‐daily LAMA (very low certainty).

• Once‐daily long‐acting beta₂‐agonists/inhaled corticosteroids combined inhalers versus inhaled long‐acting muscarinic… 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.2 [0.02, 1.73]
  2 studies · 880 participants
  Very low

Tiotropium + LABA/ICS combination vs tiotropium

Tiotropium + LABA/ICS combination showed no clear difference in mortality (all‐cause) compared with tiotropium (moderate certainty).

• Combination inhaled steroid and long‐acting beta₂‐agonist in addition to tiotropium versus tiotropium or combination… 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.8 [0.55, 5.91]
  2 studies · 961 participants
  Moderate

Regular formoterol and ICS vs same‐dose ICS

• Inhaled steroids with and without regular formoterol for asthma: serious adverse events 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  10 studies · 4035 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

• Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  41 studies · 27951 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

• Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  8 studies · 8453 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

It is very uncertain whether the intervention changes mortality, due to pneumonia (very low certainty).

• Inhaled steroids and risk of pneumonia for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 4.46 [0.07, 286.99]
  3 studies · 1511 participants
  Very low