What do systematic reviews say?

Summary of findings table ‐ immunostimulant vs placebo

• Immunostimulants versus placebo for preventing exacerbations in adults with chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive… 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 617 participants
  Very low

Statins vs placebo

Statins led to lower quality of life compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Statins versus placebo for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 3 participants
  GRADE not reported

Group 2 Pulmonary hypertension due to left‐heart disease ‐ PDE5i vs placebo

• Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors for pulmonary hypertension 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 52 participants
  Low

Group 3 Pulmonary hypertension due to lung disease ‐ PDE5i vs placebo

• Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors for pulmonary hypertension 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 238 participants
  Moderate

Group 4 Pulmonary hypertension due to CTEPH ‐ PDE5i vs placebo

• Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors for pulmonary hypertension 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 34 participants
  Low

Mixed Pulmonary hypertension group 2 ‐ 4 ‐ PDE5i vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors for pulmonary hypertension 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Intermittent ICS vs placebo

• Intermittent inhaled corticosteroid therapy versus placebo for persistent asthma in children and adults 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 143 participants
  Low

Inhaled corticosteroids vs placebo

• Inhaled corticosteroids versus placebo for stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  5 studies · 2507 participants
  Moderate

Anti‐IL13 or anti‐IL4 agents vs placebo

• Anti‐interleukin‐13 and anti‐interleukin‐4 agents versus placebo, anti‐interleukin‐5 or anti‐immunoglobulin‐E agents,… 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  7 studies · 4960 participants
  High

Umeclidinium bromide vs placebo

Umeclidinium bromide probably leads to higher quality of life: number of participants with ≥ 4 units improvement… compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Umeclidinium bromide versus placebo for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.45 [1.16, 1.82]
  3 studies · 1397 participants
  Moderate

Tiotropium vs placebo

Tiotropium leads to lower number of patients with a clinically significant worsening (≥ 4… compared with placebo (high certainty).

• Tiotropium versus placebo for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.65 [0.59, 0.72]
  9 studies · 11672 participants
  High

Tiotropium vs placebo

Tiotropium leads to higher number of patients with a clinically significant improvement (≥ 4… compared with placebo (high certainty).

• Tiotropium versus placebo for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.52 [1.38, 1.68]
  9 studies · 11672 participants
  High

Macrolides vs placebo

• Macrolide antibiotics for bronchiectasis 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 305 participants
  Low

Mucolytic vs placebo

• 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

Tiotropium vs placebo

Tiotropium showed no clear difference in quality of life (SGRQ) Scale 0 to 100, where 100 represents worst… compared with placebo (high certainty).

• Tiotropium versus placebo for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  9 studies · 13034 participants
  High

Macrolides vs placebo

• Macrolides versus placebo for chronic asthma 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  6 studies · 802 participants
  Very low

Medical or surgical intervention, or both, for gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease vs nil intervention, delayed intervention control, or placebo

• Pharmacological and surgical interventions for the treatment of gastro‐oesophageal reflux in adults and children with… 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  5 studies · 1595 participants
  Low

Macrolides vs placebo

• Macrolide antibiotics for bronchiectasis 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 68 participants
  Moderate

Macrolides vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Macrolide antibiotics for bronchiectasis 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

28 days on/off antibiotic regimen vs 28 days on/off placebo regimen

• Intermittent prophylactic antibiotics for bronchiectasis 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  Moderate
• Intermittent prophylactic antibiotics for bronchiectasis 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  Low