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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)

2,325 questions in 216 reviews · Airways

current versions
No studies 249 · 10.7%Ungraded 107 · 4.6%Very low 276 · 11.9%Low 751 · 32.3%Moderate 718 · 30.9%High 224 · 9.6%

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
Breathing exercises vs inactive control
Days off work · adults with asthma
Breathing exercises for adults with asthma (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Phosphodiesterase‐4 inhibitors vs placebo
Change in FEV₁ · people with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Phosphodiesterase‐4 inhibitors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted29 studies · 20815 participantsModerate
Phosphodiesterase‐4 inhibitors vs placebo
Change in FVC · people with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Phosphodiesterase‐4 inhibitors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted17 studies · 22108 participantsHigh
Phosphodiesterase‐4 inhibitors vs placebo
Change in PEF · people with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Phosphodiesterase‐4 inhibitors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 4245 participantsLow
Phosphodiesterase‐4 inhibitors vs placebo
Change in SGRQ total score · people with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Phosphodiesterase‐4 inhibitors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted12 studies · 7645 participantsModerate
Phosphodiesterase‐4 inhibitors vs placebo
Number of participants with 1 or more exacerbations · people with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Phosphodiesterase‐4 inhibitors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2020) · Cochrane
OR 0.78 [0.73, 0.84]27 studies · 20382 participantsHigh
Phosphodiesterase‐4 inhibitors vs placebo
Number of participants experiencing an adverse event · people with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Phosphodiesterase‐4 inhibitors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2020) · Cochrane
OR 1.3 [1.22, 1.38]30 studies · 21310 participantsLow
Phosphodiesterase‐4 inhibitors vs placebo
Gastrointestinal adverse effects: diarrhoea · people with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Phosphodiesterase‐4 inhibitors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2020) · Cochrane
OR 3.1 [2.74, 3.5]29 studies · 20623 participantsHigh
Phosphodiesterase‐4 inhibitors vs placebo
Psychiatric adverse effects (roflumilast 500 µg) · people with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Phosphodiesterase‐4 inhibitors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2020) · Cochrane
OR 2.13 [1.79, 2.54]14 studies · 11168 participantsModerate
Phosphodiesterase‐4 inhibitors vs placebo
Mortality · people with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Phosphodiesterase‐4 inhibitors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2020) · Cochrane
OR 0.98 [0.77, 1.24]27 studies · 19786 participantsModerate
Titrated oxygen therapy vs high‐flow oxygen therapy
Mortality (respiratory‐ related and all‐cause · adults with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Oxygen therapy in the pre‐hospital setting for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2020) · Cochrane
RR 0.22 [0.05, 0.97]1 study · 214 participantsLow
Titrated oxygen therapy vs high‐flow oxygen therapy
Arterial blood gas (pH) · adults with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Oxygen therapy in the pre‐hospital setting for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 214 participantsLow
Titrated oxygen therapy vs high‐flow oxygen therapy
Ventilation of any type · adults with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Oxygen therapy in the pre‐hospital setting for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2020) · Cochrane
RR 0.67 [0.29, 1.55]1 study · 189 participantsLow
Titrated oxygen therapy vs high‐flow oxygen therapy
Length of hospital stay · adults with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Oxygen therapy in the pre‐hospital setting for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 214 participantsLow
Titrated oxygen therapy vs high‐flow oxygen therapy
Quality of life ‐ not measured · adults with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Oxygen therapy in the pre‐hospital setting for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Titrated oxygen therapy vs high‐flow oxygen therapy
Lung function ‐ not measured · adults with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Oxygen therapy in the pre‐hospital setting for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Titrated oxygen therapy vs high‐flow oxygen therapy
Dyspnoea score ‐ not measured · adults with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Oxygen therapy in the pre‐hospital setting for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Corticosteroids vs placebo
AHI (number of breathing pauses and episodes of shallow breathing per hour of sleep time) · obstructive sleep apnoea in children
Anti‐inflammatory medications for obstructive sleep apnoea in children (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 75 participantsLow
Montelukast vs placebo
Serious adverse events (N experiencing event) · obstructive sleep apnoea in children
Anti‐inflammatory medications for obstructive sleep apnoea in children (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Corticosteroids vs placebo
Desaturation index (number of times per hour of sleep time that the blood's O₂ level drops by a certain proportion from baseline) · obstructive sleep apnoea in children
Anti‐inflammatory medications for obstructive sleep apnoea in children (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 75 participantsModerate
Corticosteroids vs placebo
Respiratory arousal index (number of times per hour of sleep time that an increased respiratory effort without a decrease in oxygen saturation is recorded) · obstructive sleep apnoea in children
Anti‐inflammatory medications for obstructive sleep apnoea in children (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 75 participantsLow
Corticosteroids vs placebo
Nadir SpO₂ (lowest SpO₂ during sleep) · obstructive sleep apnoea in children
Anti‐inflammatory medications for obstructive sleep apnoea in children (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 75 participantsModerate
Corticosteroids vs placebo
Serious adverse events (N experiencing events) · obstructive sleep apnoea in children
Anti‐inflammatory medications for obstructive sleep apnoea in children (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Montelukast vs placebo
AHI (number of breathing pauses and episodes of shallow breathing per hour of sleep time) · obstructive sleep apnoea in children
Anti‐inflammatory medications for obstructive sleep apnoea in children (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 103 participantsModerate
Montelukast vs placebo
Desaturation index (number of times per hour of sleep time that the blood's O₂ level drops by a certain proportion from baseline) · obstructive sleep apnoea in children
Anti‐inflammatory medications for obstructive sleep apnoea in children (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 103 participantsLow
Montelukast vs placebo
Respiratory arousal index (number of times per hour of sleep time that an increased respiratory effort without a decrease in oxygen saturation is recorded) · obstructive sleep apnoea in children
Anti‐inflammatory medications for obstructive sleep apnoea in children (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 103 participantsModerate
Montelukast vs placebo
Nadir SpO₂ (lowest SpO₂ during sleep) · obstructive sleep apnoea in children
Anti‐inflammatory medications for obstructive sleep apnoea in children (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 103 participantsHigh
Educational intervention vs control
1.1 CPAP device usage (hours/night) · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted10 studies · 1128 participantsVery low
Supportive intervention vs control
2.5.2 ESS: Comparison Endpoint or Change from Baseline Values ‐ ESS: Change from Baseline · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 470 participantsLow
Supportive intervention vs control
2.7 Quality of lIfe: Comparison of Change from Baseline Values · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 294 participantsVery low
Behavioural intervention vs control
3.1 CPAP Device Usage (hours/night) · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted8 studies · 578 participantsHigh
Behavioural intervention vs control
3.2 CPAP Device Usage, sensitivity analysis: adherence in control group < four hours/night · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted6 studies · 525 participantsModerate
Behavioural intervention vs control
3.3 N deemed adherent (≥ four hours/night) · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
OR 1.7 [1.2, 2.41]6 studies · 549 participantsHigh
Behavioural intervention vs control
3.4 Withdrawal · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
OR 0.66 [0.44, 0.98]10 studies · 939 participantsHigh
Behavioural intervention vs control
3.5 ESS (Endpoint scores) · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 271 participantsLow
Behavioural intervention vs control
3.6 AHI on treatment ‐ Endpoint · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 89 participantsVery low
Behavioural intervention vs control
3.7 Quality of Life ‐ Comparison of Values at Endpoint · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 228 participantsModerate
Behavioural intervention vs control
3.7.1 Quality of Life ‐ Comparison of Values at Endpoint ‐ QoL: FOSQ ‐ Endpoint · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 200 participantsUngraded
Educational intervention vs control
1.2 CPAP device usage (hours/night), sensitivity analysis: adherence in control group < four hours/night · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted6 studies · 698 participantsVery low
Mixed (BEH/EDU/SUP) intervention vs control
4.1 CPAP Device Usage (hours/night) · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted11 studies · 4509 participantsVery low
Mixed (BEH/EDU/SUP) intervention vs control
4.2 CPAP Device Usage, sensitivity analysis: adherence in control group < four hours/night · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 343 participantsVery low
Mixed (BEH/EDU/SUP) intervention vs control
4.3 N deemed adherent (≥ four hours/night) · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
OR 1.71 [1.08, 2.72]9 studies · 4015 participantsVery low
Mixed (BEH/EDU/SUP) intervention vs control
4.4 Withdrawal · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
OR 0.61 [0.28, 1.3]11 studies · 4956 participantsVery low
Mixed (BEH/EDU/SUP) intervention vs control
4.5 Quality of LIfe: Comparison of Change from Baseline Values · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 3012 participantsLow
Mixed (BEH/EDU/SUP) intervention vs control
4.7 Anxiety Symptom Rating ‐ Comparison of Values at Endpoint · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 333 participantsVery low
Educational intervention vs control
1.3 N deemed adherent (≥ four hours/night) · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
OR 2.58 [1.5, 4.44]7 studies · 1019 participantsVery low
Educational intervention vs control
1.4 Withdrawal ‐ NO META‐ANALYSIS PERFORMED · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted9 studies · 1745 participantsUngraded
Educational intervention vs control
1.5 ESS ‐ Comparison of values at endpoint‐ NO META‐ANALYSIS PERFORMED · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 355 participantsUngraded
Supportive intervention vs control
2.1 CPAP device usage (hours/night) · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted13 studies · 1426 participantsModerate
Supportive intervention vs control
2.2 CPAP device usage, sensitivity analysis: adherence in control group < four hours/night · adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway… (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted7 studies · 735 participantsHigh