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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)

1,080 questions in 109 reviews · Acute Respiratory Infections

current versions
No studies 132 · 12.2%Ungraded 90 · 8.3%Very low 169 · 15.6%Low 306 · 28.3%Moderate 287 · 26.6%High 96 · 8.9%

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
Semi‐recumbent position (30º to 60º) vs supine position (0° to 10°)
Microbiologically confirmed VAP · adults requiring mechanical ventilation
Semi‐recumbent position versus supine position for the prevention of ventilator‐associated pneumonia in… (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.44 [0.11, 1.77]3 studies · 419 participantsVery low
Semi‐recumbent position (30º to 60º) vs supine position (0° to 10°)
ICU mortality · adults requiring mechanical ventilation
Semi‐recumbent position versus supine position for the prevention of ventilator‐associated pneumonia in… (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.87 [0.59, 1.27]2 studies · 307 participantsLow
Semi‐recumbent position (30º to 60º) vs supine position (0° to 10°)
Hospital mortality · adults requiring mechanical ventilation
Semi‐recumbent position versus supine position for the prevention of ventilator‐associated pneumonia in… (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.84 [0.59, 1.2]3 studies · 346 participantsLow
Semi‐recumbent position (30º to 60º) vs supine position (0° to 10°)
Length of ICU stay · adults requiring mechanical ventilation
Semi‐recumbent position versus supine position for the prevention of ventilator‐associated pneumonia in… (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 346 participantsModerate
Semi‐recumbent position (30º to 60º) vs supine position (0° to 10°)
Length of hospital stay · adults requiring mechanical ventilation
Semi‐recumbent position versus supine position for the prevention of ventilator‐associated pneumonia in… (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 260 participantsVery low
Semi‐recumbent position (30º to 60º) vs supine position (0° to 10°)
Pressure ulcers · adults requiring mechanical ventilation
Semi‐recumbent position versus supine position for the prevention of ventilator‐associated pneumonia in… (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.91 [0.6, 1.38]1 study · 221 participantsLow
Semi‐recumbent positioning: 45° vs 25° to 30°
Clinically suspected VAP · adults requiring mechanical ventilation
Semi‐recumbent position versus supine position for the prevention of ventilator‐associated pneumonia in… (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.74 [0.35, 1.56]2 studies · 91 participantsVery low
Semi‐recumbent positioning: 45° vs 25° to 30°
Microbiologically confirmed VAP · adults requiring mechanical ventilation
Semi‐recumbent position versus supine position for the prevention of ventilator‐associated pneumonia in… (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.61 [0.2, 1.84]1 study · 30 participantsVery low
Written information for patients (or parents of child patients) vs usual care
Antibiotics used by patients · patients (or parents of child patients) with acute upper respiratory tract infections
Written information for patients (or parents of child patients) to reduce the use of antibiotics for acute… (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.53 [0.35, 0.8]1 study · 2201 participantsModerate
Written information for patients (or parents of child patients) vs usual care
Antibiotics prescribed by clinicians · patients (or parents of child patients) with acute upper respiratory tract infections
Written information for patients (or parents of child patients) to reduce the use of antibiotics for acute… (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.47 [0.28, 0.78]2 studies · 188131 participantsLow
Written information for patients (or parents of child patients) vs usual care
Reconsultation rates · patients (or parents of child patients) with acute upper respiratory tract infections
Written information for patients (or parents of child patients) to reduce the use of antibiotics for acute… (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.79 [0.47, 1.32]1 study · 3471 participantsModerate
Written information for patients (or parents of child patients) vs usual care
Patient satisfaction with consultation · patients (or parents of child patients) with acute upper respiratory tract infections
Written information for patients (or parents of child patients) to reduce the use of antibiotics for acute… (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.95 [0.87, 1.03]1 study · 2201 participantsModerate
Written information for patients (or parents of child patients) plus prescribing feedback to clinicians vs prescribing feedback alone
Antibiotics prescribed by clinicians · patients (or parents of child patients) with acute upper respiratory tract infections
Written information for patients (or parents of child patients) to reduce the use of antibiotics for acute… (2016) · Cochrane
RR 1.13 [1.09, 1.17]1 study · 15149 participantsLow
Antivirals vs placebo/no treatment
Time to clinical recovery doctor judgement · patients diagnosed with clinical and laboratory‐confirmed diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever)
Antiviral agents for infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever) (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 87 participantsVery low
Antivirals vs placebo/no treatment
Time to clinical recovery patient judgement · patients diagnosed with clinical and laboratory‐confirmed diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever)
Antiviral agents for infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever) (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 87 participantsVery low
Antivirals vs placebo/no treatment
Adverse events and side effects · patients diagnosed with clinical and laboratory‐confirmed diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever)
Antiviral agents for infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever) (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 248 participantsVery low
Antivirals vs placebo/no treatment
Duration of lymphadenopathy · patients diagnosed with clinical and laboratory‐confirmed diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever)
Antiviral agents for infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever) (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 61 participantsVery low
Antivirals vs placebo/no treatment
Development of complications of Infectious mononucleosis · patients diagnosed with clinical and laboratory‐confirmed diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever)
Antiviral agents for infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever) (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 108 participantsVery low
Antivirals vs placebo/no treatment
Viral shedding · patients diagnosed with clinical and laboratory‐confirmed diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever)
Antiviral agents for infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever) (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted6 studies · 268 participantsVery low
Antivirals vs placebo/no treatment
Days missing from school / work · patients diagnosed with clinical and laboratory‐confirmed diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever)
Antiviral agents for infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever) (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 87 participantsVery low
Resistance and endurance exercise prior to influenza vaccination vs no exercise prior to influenza vaccination
Incidence of influenza Self‐reported influenza‐like illness · Adults and elderly
Exercise prior to influenza vaccination for limiting influenza incidence and its related complications in… (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.22 [0.01, 4.4]1 study · 98 participantsVery low
Resistance and endurance exercise prior to influenza vaccination vs no exercise prior to influenza vaccination
Complications related to influenza illness · Adults and elderly
Exercise prior to influenza vaccination for limiting influenza incidence and its related complications in… (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Resistance and endurance exercise prior to influenza vaccination vs no exercise prior to influenza vaccination
Adverse events Hypersensitivity reaction to vaccination · Adults and elderly
Exercise prior to influenza vaccination for limiting influenza incidence and its related complications in… (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 120 participantsLow
Resistance and endurance exercise prior to influenza vaccination vs no exercise prior to influenza vaccination
Numbers of working days or days lost related to influenza illness · Adults and elderly
Exercise prior to influenza vaccination for limiting influenza incidence and its related complications in… (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Beta‐2 agonists vs placebo
Children: cough score after one day cough score · people with acute cough or a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchitis
Beta2‐agonists for acute cough or a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchitis (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 96 participantsModerate
Beta‐2 agonists vs placebo
Children: cough score after three days cough score · people with acute cough or a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchitis
Beta2‐agonists for acute cough or a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchitis (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 95 participantsModerate
Beta‐2 agonists vs placebo
Children: cough after seven days daily phone call · people with acute cough or a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchitis
Beta2‐agonists for acute cough or a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchitis (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.89 [0.47, 1.68]1 study · 59 participantsModerate
Beta‐2 agonists vs placebo
Children: shaking or tremor recorded/reported by parents · people with acute cough or a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchitis
Beta2‐agonists for acute cough or a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchitis (2015) · Cochrane
RR 6.76 [0.86, 53.18]2 studies · 108 participantsModerate
Beta‐2 agonists vs placebo
Adults: cough after seven days diary · people with acute cough or a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchitis
Beta2‐agonists for acute cough or a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchitis (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.86 [0.63, 1.18]3 studies · 220 participantsLow
Beta‐2 agonists vs placebo
Adults: night cough after seven days diary · people with acute cough or a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchitis
Beta2‐agonists for acute cough or a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchitis (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.84 [0.54, 1.33]3 studies · 210 participantsModerate
Beta‐2 agonists vs placebo
Adults: shaking, tremor or nervousness diary · people with acute cough or a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchitis
Beta2‐agonists for acute cough or a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchitis (2015) · Cochrane
RR 7.94 [1.17, 53.94]3 studies · 211 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Absence of symptoms at 48 hours ‐ patient assessment
Homeopathic Oscillococcinum® for preventing and treating influenza and influenza‐like illness (2015) · Cochrane
RR 1.86 [1.27, 2.73]2 studies · 796 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Mortality · acute bacterial meningitis
Corticosteroids for acute bacterial meningitis (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.9 [0.8, 1.01]25 studies · 4121 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Severe hearing loss · acute bacterial meningitis
Corticosteroids for acute bacterial meningitis (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.67 [0.51, 0.88]17 studies · 2437 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
Any hearing loss · acute bacterial meningitis
Corticosteroids for acute bacterial meningitis (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.74 [0.63, 0.87]20 studies · 2785 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
Short‐term neurological sequelae · acute bacterial meningitis
Corticosteroids for acute bacterial meningitis (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.83 [0.69, 1]13 studies · 1756 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
Adverse events ‐ recurrent fever · acute bacterial meningitis
Corticosteroids for acute bacterial meningitis (2015) · Cochrane
RR 1.27 [1.09, 1.47]12 studies · 1723 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Clinical cure rates at day 8 ± 1 · adults with acute laryngitis
Antibiotics for acute laryngitis in adults (2015) · Cochrane
RR 1.07 [0.88, 1.31]1 study · 93 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Clinical cure rates at day 8 ± 1 · adults with acute laryngitis
Antibiotics for acute laryngitis in adults (2015) · Cochrane
RR 1.09 [0.9, 1.32]1 study · 97 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Laryngitis at 1 week · adults with acute laryngitis
Antibiotics for acute laryngitis in adults (2015) · Cochrane
RR 1.1 [0.76, 1.59]1 study · 99 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Laryngitis at 2 weeks · adults with acute laryngitis
Antibiotics for acute laryngitis in adults (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.81 [0.44, 1.49]1 study · 99 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Patients having voice disturbance at 1 week · adults with acute laryngitis
Antibiotics for acute laryngitis in adults (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.87 [0.59, 1.28]1 study · 99 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Patients having voice disturbance at 2 weeks · adults with acute laryngitis
Antibiotics for acute laryngitis in adults (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.56 [0.28, 1.14]1 study · 99 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Frequency of meningitis · patients with a recent BSF independent of the presence or severity of CSF leakage
Antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing meningitis in patients with basilar skull fractures (2015) · Cochrane
OR 0.69 [0.29, 1.61]4 studies · 208 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
All‐cause mortality · patients with a recent BSF independent of the presence or severity of CSF leakage
Antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing meningitis in patients with basilar skull fractures (2015) · Cochrane
OR 1.68 [0.41, 6.95]4 studies · 208 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Meningitis‐related mortality · patients with a recent BSF independent of the presence or severity of CSF leakage
Antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing meningitis in patients with basilar skull fractures (2015) · Cochrane
OR 1.03 [0.14, 7.4]4 studies · 208 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Need for surgical correction in patients with CSF leakage · patients with a recent BSF independent of the presence or severity of CSF leakage
Antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing meningitis in patients with basilar skull fractures (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 109 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Non‐CNS infection · patients with a recent BSF independent of the presence or severity of CSF leakage
Antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing meningitis in patients with basilar skull fractures (2015) · Cochrane
OR 0.61 [0.15, 2.46]1 study · 52 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
Sum of overall symptom score · patients with common cold
Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs for the common cold (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 293 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Duration of colds · patients with common cold
Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs for the common cold (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 214 participantsModerate