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Search review questions

Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.

Limit to evidence status or GRADE (optional)

915 questions in 93 reviews · Emergency and Critical Care

current versions
No studies 141 · 15.4%Ungraded 22 · 2.4%Very low 216 · 23.6%Low 272 · 29.7%Moderate 188 · 20.5%High 76 · 8.3%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

QuestionEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Heat and moisture exchangers (HME) vs heated humidifiers (HH)
Pneumonia (Measured over 4‐21 days (median 4 days)) · ventilated adults (18 trials) and children (1 trial)
Heat and moisture exchangers versus heated humidifiers for mechanically ventilated adults and children (2017) · Cochrane
RR 0.93 [0.73, 1.19]13 studies · 2251 participantsLow
Aerosolized prostacyclin vs placebo
Mortality · people with ARDS
Aerosolized prostacyclins for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (2017) · Cochrane
RR 1.5 [0.17, 12.94]1 study · 14 participantsVery low
Aerosolized prostacyclin vs placebo
PaO2/FiO2 ratio5 · people with ARDS
Aerosolized prostacyclins for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 67 participantsVery low
Aerosolized prostacyclin vs placebo
Improvement in mean pulmonary arterial pressure · people with ARDS
Aerosolized prostacyclins for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Aerosolized prostacyclin vs placebo
Adverse events7 · people with ARDS
Aerosolized prostacyclins for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 81 participantsVery low
Should high‐volume haemofiltration vs standard or usual dialysis be used
ICU mortality · patients with sepsis
High‐volume haemofiltration for sepsis in adults (2017) · Cochrane
RR 0.59 [0.19, 1.59]1 study · 19 participantsLow
Should high‐volume haemofiltration vs standard or usual dialysis be used
28‐Day mortality · patients with sepsis
High‐volume haemofiltration for sepsis in adults (2017) · Cochrane
RR 0.89 [0.6, 1.32]2 studies · 156 participantsLow
Acetazolamide vs placebo
Incidence of acute mountain sickness (AMS)‐ Follow‐ up: From arrival to 24 hours later · people at risk of high altitude illness
Interventions for preventing high altitude illness: Part 1. Commonly‐used classes of drugs (2017) · Cochrane
RR 0.47 [0.39, 0.56]16 studies · 2301 participantsModerate
Dexamethasone vs placebo
Incidence of acute mountain sickness (AMS)‐ Follow‐ up: From arrival to 24 hours later · people at risk of high altitude illness
Interventions for preventing high altitude illness: Part 1. Commonly‐used classes of drugs (2017) · Cochrane
RR 0.6 [0.36, 1]4 studies · 176 participantsLow
Dexamethasone vs placebo
Incidence of high altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE)‐ not reported · people at risk of high altitude illness
Interventions for preventing high altitude illness: Part 1. Commonly‐used classes of drugs (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Dexamethasone vs placebo
Incidence of high altitude cerebral oedema (HACE) ‐ not reported · people at risk of high altitude illness
Interventions for preventing high altitude illness: Part 1. Commonly‐used classes of drugs (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Dexamethasone vs placebo
Adverse events: General‐ Follow‐ up: From arrival to 24 hours later · people at risk of high altitude illness
Interventions for preventing high altitude illness: Part 1. Commonly‐used classes of drugs (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 21 participantsVery low
Acetazolamide vs placebo
Incidence of high altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE)‐ Follow‐ up: From arrival to 24 hours later · people at risk of high altitude illness
Interventions for preventing high altitude illness: Part 1. Commonly‐used classes of drugs (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted7 studies · 1138 participantsModerate
Acetazolamide vs placebo
Incidence of high altitude cerebral oedema (HACE)‐ Follow‐ up: From arrival to 24 hours later · people at risk of high altitude illness
Interventions for preventing high altitude illness: Part 1. Commonly‐used classes of drugs (2017) · Cochrane
RR 0.32 [0.01, 7.48]6 studies · 1126 participantsModerate
Acetazolamide vs placebo
Adverse events: Paresthesias‐ Follow‐ up: From arrival to 24 hours later · people at risk of high altitude illness
Interventions for preventing high altitude illness: Part 1. Commonly‐used classes of drugs (2017) · Cochrane
RR 5.53 [2.81, 10.88]5 studies · 789 participantsLow
Acetazolamide vs placebo
Adverse events: side effects‐ Follow‐ up: From arrival to 24 hours later · people at risk of high altitude illness
Interventions for preventing high altitude illness: Part 1. Commonly‐used classes of drugs (2017) · Cochrane
RR 2.19 [1.36, 3.53]1 study · 400 participantsLow
Budesonide vs placebo
Incidence of acute mountain sickness (AMS)‐ Follow‐ up: From arrival to 24 hours later · people at risk of high altitude illness
Interventions for preventing high altitude illness: Part 1. Commonly‐used classes of drugs (2017) · Cochrane
RR 0.37 [0.23, 0.61]2 studies · 132 participantsLow
Budesonide vs placebo
Incidence of high altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE)‐ not reported · people at risk of high altitude illness
Interventions for preventing high altitude illness: Part 1. Commonly‐used classes of drugs (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Budesonide vs placebo
Incidence of high altitude cerebral oedema (HACE)‐ not reported · people at risk of high altitude illness
Interventions for preventing high altitude illness: Part 1. Commonly‐used classes of drugs (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Budesonide vs placebo
Adverse events: Side effects‐ Follow‐ up: From arrival to 24 hours later · people at risk of high altitude illness
Interventions for preventing high altitude illness: Part 1. Commonly‐used classes of drugs (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 40 participantsVery low
Continuous chest compression alone vs interrupted chest compression plus artificial ventilation
Survival to hospital discharge · People with non‐trauma related out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest
Continuous chest compression versus interrupted chest compression for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of… (2017) · Cochrane
RR 1.21 [1.01, 1.46]3 studies · 3031 participantsHigh
Continuous chest compression plus ventilation vs interrupted chest compression plus ventilation
Survival at one year · Patients with non‐trauma related out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest
Continuous chest compression versus interrupted chest compression for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of… (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Continuous chest compression plus ventilation vs interrupted chest compression plus ventilation
Neurological outcomes at hospital discharge (Rankin score ≤ 3) · Patients with non‐trauma related out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest
Continuous chest compression versus interrupted chest compression for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of… (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 23555 participantsHigh
Continuous chest compression plus ventilation vs interrupted chest compression plus ventilation
Return of spontaneous circulation · Patients with non‐trauma related out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest
Continuous chest compression versus interrupted chest compression for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of… (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 23697 participantsHigh
Continuous chest compression plus ventilation vs interrupted chest compression plus ventilation
Adverse effects Defined as any adverse event occurring post‐admission · Patients with non‐trauma related out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest
Continuous chest compression versus interrupted chest compression for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of… (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 23711 participantsModerate
Continuous chest compression plus ventilation vs interrupted chest compression plus ventilation
Quality of life · Patients with non‐trauma related out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest
Continuous chest compression versus interrupted chest compression for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of… (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Continuous chest compression alone vs interrupted chest compression plus artificial ventilation
Survival to hospital admission · People with non‐trauma related out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest
Continuous chest compression versus interrupted chest compression for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of… (2017) · Cochrane
RR 1.18 [0.94, 1.48]1 study · 520 participantsModerate
Continuous chest compression alone vs interrupted chest compression plus artificial ventilation
Survival at one year · People with non‐trauma related out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest
Continuous chest compression versus interrupted chest compression for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of… (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Continuous chest compression alone vs interrupted chest compression plus artificial ventilation
Neurological outcomes at hospital discharge Measured as 'good' or 'moderate' with Cerebral Performance Category classification · People with non‐trauma related out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest
Continuous chest compression versus interrupted chest compression for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of… (2017) · Cochrane
RR 1.25 [0.94, 1.66]1 study · 1286 participantsModerate
Continuous chest compression alone vs interrupted chest compression plus artificial ventilation
Return of spontaneous circulation · People with non‐trauma related out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest
Continuous chest compression versus interrupted chest compression for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of… (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Continuous chest compression alone vs interrupted chest compression plus artificial ventilation
Adverse effects · People with non‐trauma related out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest
Continuous chest compression versus interrupted chest compression for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of… (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Continuous chest compression alone vs interrupted chest compression plus artificial ventilation
Quality of life · People with non‐trauma related out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest
Continuous chest compression versus interrupted chest compression for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of… (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Continuous chest compression plus ventilation vs interrupted chest compression plus ventilation
Survival to hospital discharge · Patients with non‐trauma related out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest
Continuous chest compression versus interrupted chest compression for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of… (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 23648 participantsModerate
Continuous chest compression plus ventilation vs interrupted chest compression plus ventilation
Survival to hospital admission · Patients with non‐trauma related out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest
Continuous chest compression versus interrupted chest compression for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of… (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 23711 participantsHigh
Capnography and standard monitoring vs standard monitoring
Oxygen desaturation · patients undergoing PSA
Capnography versus standard monitoring for emergency department procedural sedation and analgesia (2017) · Cochrane
RR 0.89 [0.48, 1.63]3 studies · 1272 participantsModerate
Capnography and standard monitoring vs standard monitoring
Hypotension · patients undergoing PSA
Capnography versus standard monitoring for emergency department procedural sedation and analgesia (2017) · Cochrane
RR 2.36 [0.98, 5.69]1 study · 986 participantsModerate
Capnography and standard monitoring vs standard monitoring
Emesis, pulmonary aspiration · patients undergoing PSA
Capnography versus standard monitoring for emergency department procedural sedation and analgesia (2017) · Cochrane
RR 3.1 [0.13, 75.88]1 study · 986 participantsModerate
Capnography and standard monitoring vs standard monitoring
Airway interventions · patients undergoing PSA
Capnography versus standard monitoring for emergency department procedural sedation and analgesia (2017) · Cochrane
RR 1.26 [0.94, 1.69]3 studies · 1272 participantsModerate
Capnography and standard monitoring vs standard monitoring
Airway interventions adult subgroup analysis (aged ≥ 18 years)h · patients undergoing PSA
Capnography versus standard monitoring for emergency department procedural sedation and analgesia (2017) · Cochrane
RR 1.44 [1.16, 1.79]2 studies · 1118 participantsModerate
Capnography and standard monitoring vs standard monitoring
Recovery time · patients undergoing PSA
Capnography versus standard monitoring for emergency department procedural sedation and analgesia (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
PCT vs non‐PCT (standard care or CRP: primary outcomes)
Mortality at longest · adult patients with sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock
Effectiveness and safety of procalcitonin evaluation for reducing mortality in adults with sepsis, severe… (2017) · Cochrane
RR 0.81 [0.65, 1.01]10 studies · 1156 participantsLow
PCT vs non‐PCT (standard care or CRP: primary outcomes)
Mortality at 28 days · adult patients with sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock
Effectiveness and safety of procalcitonin evaluation for reducing mortality in adults with sepsis, severe… (2017) · Cochrane
RR 0.89 [0.61, 1.31]4 studies · 316 participantsLow
PCT vs non‐PCT (standard care or CRP: primary outcomes)
Mortality at ICU discharge · adult patients with sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock
Effectiveness and safety of procalcitonin evaluation for reducing mortality in adults with sepsis, severe… (2017) · Cochrane
RR 1.03 [0.5, 2.11]3 studies · 506 participantsLow
PCT vs non‐PCT (standard care or CRP: primary outcomes)
Mortality at hospital discharge · adult patients with sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock
Effectiveness and safety of procalcitonin evaluation for reducing mortality in adults with sepsis, severe… (2017) · Cochrane
RR 0.98 [0.75, 1.27]7 studies · 805 participantsModerate
PCT vs non‐PCT (standard care or CRP: primary outcomes)
Time receiving antimicrobial therapy (days) ‐ mean (SD) · adult patients with sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock
Effectiveness and safety of procalcitonin evaluation for reducing mortality in adults with sepsis, severe… (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 313 participantsVery low
PCT vs non‐PCT (standard care or CRP: primary outcomes)
Participants with antimicrobial regimen changed from a broad to a narrower spectrum · adult patients with sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock
Effectiveness and safety of procalcitonin evaluation for reducing mortality in adults with sepsis, severe… (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Any adverse event · Critically‐ill people
Harms of off‐label erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents for critically ill people (2017) · Cochrane
RR 1.05 [0.93, 1.21]8 studies · 3099 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Venous thromboembolism · Critically‐ill people
Harms of off‐label erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents for critically ill people (2017) · Cochrane
RR 1.04 [0.7, 1.41]13 studies · 18917 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Mortality · Critically‐ill people
Harms of off‐label erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents for critically ill people (2017) · Cochrane
RR 0.76 [0.61, 0.92]25 studies · 930470 participantsLow
Summary of findings for the main comparison: cough augmentation techniques vs no cough augmentation technique
Extubation successa · critically‐ill mechanically‐ventilated adults and children requiring extubation from mechanical ventilation
Cough augmentation techniques for extubation or weaning critically ill patients from mechanical ventilation (2017) · Cochrane
RR 1.58 [1.13, 2.2]1 study · 75 participantsVery low