What do systematic reviews say?

Intervention not reported

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

• Regular treatment with formoterol for chronic asthma: serious adverse events 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.52 [0.24, 9.71]
  14 studies · 5463 participants
  Moderate

Summary of findings table ‐ immunostimulant vs placebo

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

• Immunostimulants versus placebo for preventing exacerbations in adults with chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive… 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.64 [0.37, 1.1]
  5 studies · 1558 participants
  Moderate

Statins vs placebo

Statins showed no clear difference in all‐cause mortality compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Statins versus placebo for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.03 [0.61, 1.74]
  2 studies · 952 participants
  Low

LABA/LAMA vs placebo

Once‐daily LABA/LAMA in a combined inhaler showed no clear difference in all‐cause mortality (3‐week to 1‐year compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Once daily long‐acting beta2‐agonists and long‐acting muscarinic antagonists in a combined inhaler versus placebo for… 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.88 [0.81, 4.36]
  18 studies · 8752 participants
  Low

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

Antibiotics vs placebo

Antibiotics showed no clear difference in all‐cause mortality compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Antibiotics for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.27 [0.49, 3.3]
  1 study · 301 participants
  Low

Macrolides vs placebo

• Macrolide antibiotics for bronchiectasis 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  7 studies · 540 participants
  Low

Aclidinium bromide vs placebo

Aclidinium bromide showed no clear difference in mortality (all‐cause) compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Aclidinium bromide for stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.92 [0.43, 1.94]
  9 studies · 5252 participants
  Low

Long‐acting beta2‐agonists vs placebo

Long‐acting beta2‐agonists showed no clear difference in mortality (all‐cause) compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Long‐acting beta₂‐agonists for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.9 [0.75, 1.08]
  23 studies · 14079 participants
  Moderate

Antibiotics vs placebo

Antibiotics showed no clear difference in all‐cause mortality WMD of compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Prophylactic antibiotic therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.87 [0.66, 1.15]
  6 studies · 3309 participants
  Moderate

Cyclophosphamide vs placebo

Cyclophosphamide showed no clear difference in all‐cause mortality 12‐month compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Cyclophosphamide for connective tissue disease–associated interstitial lung disease 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.94 [0.19, 4.77]
  2 studies · 179 participants
  Low

Regular salmeterol vs placebo

• Regular treatment with salmeterol for chronic asthma: serious adverse events 2008 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 1126 participants
  GRADE not reported

Antibiotics vs placebo

Antibiotics showed no clear difference in all‐cause mortality ‐ inpatients compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Antibiotics for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 2.48 [0.94, 6.55]
  2 studies · 214 participants
  Moderate

Antibiotics vs placebo

Antibiotics probably leads to lower all‐cause mortality ‐ ICU patients compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Antibiotics for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.21 [0.06, 0.72]
  1 study · 93 participants
  Moderate

Regular salmeterol vs placebo

Regular salmeterol showed no clear difference in all‐cause mortality ‐ adults and adolescents compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Regular treatment with salmeterol for chronic asthma: serious adverse events 2008 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.33 [0.85, 2.08]
  10 studies · 29128 participants
  Moderate

Beclometasone vs placebo

It is very uncertain whether beclometasone changes mortality (all‐cause) (dichotomous Peto method) compared with placebo (very low certainty).

• Beclometasone for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.94 [0.26, 3.34]
  1 study · 194 participants
  Very low