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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
Intervention NR
Throat irritation score · patients with common cold
Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs for the common cold (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 159 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Headache score · patients with common cold
Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs for the common cold (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 159 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Score of pain in muscles/joints score · patients with common cold
Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs for the common cold (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studies · 2 participantsUngraded
Intervention NR
Cough score · patients with common cold
Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs for the common cold (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 159 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Rhinorrhoea score · patients with common cold
Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs for the common cold (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 199 participantsModerate
Normal saline plus standard treatment vs standard treatment alone
Mean days to wellness Patient reports · patients with acute upper respiratory tract infections
Saline nasal irrigation for acute upper respiratory tract infections (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 111 participantsVery low
Normal saline plus standard treatment vs standard treatment alone
Antibiotic usage Patient‐reported usage · patients with acute upper respiratory tract infections
Saline nasal irrigation for acute upper respiratory tract infections (2015) · Cochrane
OR 0.65 [0.29, 1.46]2 studies · 422 participantsVery low
Normal saline plus standard treatment vs standard treatment alone
Sore throat Patient‐reported symptoms Scale from: 1 to 4 · patients with acute upper respiratory tract infections
Saline nasal irrigation for acute upper respiratory tract infections (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 390 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Need for mechanical ventilation (invasive or not) · infants with bronchiolitis
Heliox inhalation therapy for bronchiolitis in infants (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.95 [0.61, 1.49]4 studies · 408 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
Rate of intubation (all reasons) · infants with bronchiolitis
Heliox inhalation therapy for bronchiolitis in infants (2015) · Cochrane
RR 2.73 [0.96, 7.75]4 studies · 408 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Rate of emergency department discharge · infants with bronchiolitis
Heliox inhalation therapy for bronchiolitis in infants (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.51 [0.17, 1.55]1 study · 69 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Length of treatment · infants with bronchiolitis
Heliox inhalation therapy for bronchiolitis in infants (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 320 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Length of treatment ‐ nCPAP · infants with bronchiolitis
Heliox inhalation therapy for bronchiolitis in infants (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 21 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Change in clinical respiratory scores (m‐WCAS) within the first hour after starting heliox treatment · infants with bronchiolitis
Heliox inhalation therapy for bronchiolitis in infants (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 138 participantsModerate
Should short‐course antibiotic therapy vs prolonged‐course antibiotic therapy be used
Mortality · hospital‐acquired pneumonia
Short‐course versus prolonged‐course antibiotic therapy for hospital‐acquired pneumonia in critically ill… (2015) · Cochrane
OR 1.18 [0.77, 1.8]3 studies · 598 participantsModerate
Should short‐course antibiotic therapy vs prolonged‐course antibiotic therapy be used
Mortality NF‐GNB · hospital‐acquired pneumonia
Short‐course versus prolonged‐course antibiotic therapy for hospital‐acquired pneumonia in critically ill… (2015) · Cochrane
OR 0.95 [0.39, 2.27]2 studies · 179 participantsLow
Should short‐course antibiotic therapy vs prolonged‐course antibiotic therapy be used
Mortality MRSA · hospital‐acquired pneumonia
Short‐course versus prolonged‐course antibiotic therapy for hospital‐acquired pneumonia in critically ill… (2015) · Cochrane
OR 1.28 [0.32, 5.09]1 study · 42 participantsModerate
Should short‐course antibiotic therapy vs prolonged‐course antibiotic therapy be used
Recurrence of pneumonia Clinical and/or microbiological criteria · hospital‐acquired pneumonia
Short‐course versus prolonged‐course antibiotic therapy for hospital‐acquired pneumonia in critically ill… (2015) · Cochrane
OR 1.41 [0.94, 2.12]19 studies · 733 participantsLow
Should short‐course antibiotic therapy vs prolonged‐course antibiotic therapy be used
Recurrence of pneumonia NF‐GNB Clinical and/or microbiological criteria · hospital‐acquired pneumonia
Short‐course versus prolonged‐course antibiotic therapy for hospital‐acquired pneumonia in critically ill… (2015) · Cochrane
OR 2.18 [1.14, 4.16]2 studies · 176 participantsModerate
Should short‐course antibiotic therapy vs prolonged‐course antibiotic therapy be used
Recurrence of pneumonia MRSA Clinical and/or microbiological criteria · hospital‐acquired pneumonia
Short‐course versus prolonged‐course antibiotic therapy for hospital‐acquired pneumonia in critically ill… (2015) · Cochrane
OR 1.56 [0.12, 19.61]2 studies · 49 participantsModerate
Should short‐course antibiotic therapy vs prolonged‐course antibiotic therapy be used
28‐day antibiotic‐free days · hospital‐acquired pneumonia
Short‐course versus prolonged‐course antibiotic therapy for hospital‐acquired pneumonia in critically ill… (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 431 participantsLow
Intervention NR
The rate of improvement in CT images ( · adults with diffuse panbronchiolitis
Macrolides for diffuse panbronchiolitis (2015) · Cochrane
RR 15.38 [1.05, 225.73]1 study · 19 participantsLow
Intervention NR
The rate of progress in CT images ( · adults with diffuse panbronchiolitis
Macrolides for diffuse panbronchiolitis (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.06 [0, 0.88]1 study · 19 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Duration of mechanical ventilation (hours) · critically ill infants with bronchiolitis
Surfactant therapy for bronchiolitis in critically ill infants (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 79 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Duration of ICU stay (days) · critically ill infants with bronchiolitis
Surfactant therapy for bronchiolitis in critically ill infants (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 79 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
PO2/FiO2 ratio at 12 hours · critically ill infants with bronchiolitis
Surfactant therapy for bronchiolitis in critically ill infants (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 60 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
PO2/FiO2 ratio at 24 hours · critically ill infants with bronchiolitis
Surfactant therapy for bronchiolitis in critically ill infants (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 60 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
PCO2 at 12 hours (mmHg) · critically ill infants with bronchiolitis
Surfactant therapy for bronchiolitis in critically ill infants (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 60 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
PCO2 at 24 hours (mmHg) · critically ill infants with bronchiolitis
Surfactant therapy for bronchiolitis in critically ill infants (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 60 participantsModerate
Antihistamines vs placebo
Change in severity of overall symptoms: short‐term Subjective severity score · patients with the common cold
Antihistamines for the common cold (2015) · Cochrane
OR 0.74 [0.6, 0.92]3 studies · 1490 participantsModerate
Antihistamines vs placebo
Change in severity of overall symptoms: intermediate‐term (3 to 4 days) Subjective severity score · patients with the common cold
Antihistamines for the common cold (2015) · Cochrane
OR 1.19 [0.67, 2.11]1 study · 234 participantsHigh
Antihistamines vs placebo
Change in severity of overall symptoms: long‐term (6 to 10 days) Subjective severity score · patients with the common cold
Antihistamines for the common cold (2015) · Cochrane
OR 0.71 [0.41, 1.22]3 studies · 1551 participantsHigh
Sedating antihistamines vs placebo
Change in severity of overall symptoms: short‐term (1 to 2 days) Subjective severity score · patients with the common cold
Antihistamines for the common cold (2015) · Cochrane
OR 0.76 [0.61, 0.95]2 studies · 1427 participantsHigh
Sedating antihistamines vs placebo
Change in severity of overall symptoms: long‐term (6 to 10 days) Subjective severity score · patients with the common cold
Antihistamines for the common cold (2015) · Cochrane
OR 0.71 [0.41, 1.22]3 studies · 1551 participantsHigh
Gamma‐globulin vs control (saline or no treatment)
Rubella cases Initial meta‐analysis ‐ clinical diagnosis or serology +/‐ virus isolation +/‐ clinical signs · susceptible people exposed to rubella
Post‐exposure passive immunisation for preventing rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.61 [0.45, 0.83]11 studies · 389 participantsModerate
Gamma‐globulin vs control (saline or no treatment)
Subgroup: rubella cases Estimated dose 0.027 to 0.037 ml/lb11 Clinical diagnosis by 2 physicians · susceptible people exposed to rubella
Post‐exposure passive immunisation for preventing rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (2015) · Cochrane
RR 1.6 [0.57, 4.52]1 study · 24 participantsLow
Gamma‐globulin vs control (saline or no treatment)
Subgroup: rubella cases Estimated dose 0.1 to 0.15 ml/lb11 Serology +/‐ virus isolation +/‐ clinical signs · susceptible people exposed to rubella
Post‐exposure passive immunisation for preventing rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.53 [0.29, 0.99]3 studies · 37 participantsHigh
Gamma‐globulin vs control (saline or no treatment)
Subgroup: rubella cases Estimated dose 0.2 to 0.5 ml/lb11 Serology +/‐ virus isolation +/‐ clinical signs · susceptible people exposed to rubella
Post‐exposure passive immunisation for preventing rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.2 [0.04, 1]3 studies · 28 participantsModerate
Gamma‐globulin vs control (saline or no treatment)
Cases of congenital rubella infection ‐ not measured · susceptible people exposed to rubella
Post‐exposure passive immunisation for preventing rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Gamma‐globulin vs control (saline or no treatment)
Cases of congenital rubella syndrome ‐ not measured · susceptible people exposed to rubella
Post‐exposure passive immunisation for preventing rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Gamma‐globulin vs control (saline or no treatment)
Adverse events ‐ not measured · susceptible people exposed to rubella
Post‐exposure passive immunisation for preventing rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Montelukast vs placebo
Length of hospital stay · infants and young children with bronchiolitis
Leukotriene inhibitors for bronchiolitis in infants and young children (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 136 participantsLow
Montelukast vs placebo
All‐cause mortality Deaths · infants and young children with bronchiolitis
Leukotriene inhibitors for bronchiolitis in infants and young children (2015) · Cochrane
RR 2.51 [0.12, 52.16]1 study · 952 participantsUngraded
Montelukast vs placebo
Clinical severity score (day 2) · infants and young children with bronchiolitis
Leukotriene inhibitors for bronchiolitis in infants and young children (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 136 participantsLow
Montelukast vs placebo
Clinical severity score (day 3) · infants and young children with bronchiolitis
Leukotriene inhibitors for bronchiolitis in infants and young children (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 132 participantsLow
Montelukast vs placebo
Clinical adverse effects · infants and young children with bronchiolitis
Leukotriene inhibitors for bronchiolitis in infants and young children (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 1063 participantsUngraded
Shared decision making vs usual care
Antibiotics prescribed or dispensed (6 weeks or less) · antibiotic use in acute respiratory infections
Interventions to facilitate shared decision making to address antibiotic use for acute respiratory… (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.61 [0.55, 0.68]8 studies · 10172 participantsModerate
Shared decision making vs usual care
Antibiotics prescribed or dispensed (12 months or greater) · antibiotic use in acute respiratory infections
Interventions to facilitate shared decision making to address antibiotic use for acute respiratory… (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.74 [0.49, 1.11]3 studies · 481588 participantsLow
Shared decision making vs usual care
Patient initiated re‐consultations for the same illness episode · antibiotic use in acute respiratory infections
Interventions to facilitate shared decision making to address antibiotic use for acute respiratory… (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.87 [0.74, 1.03]4 studies · 1861 participantsModerate
Shared decision making vs usual care
Patient satisfaction with the consultation · antibiotic use in acute respiratory infections
Interventions to facilitate shared decision making to address antibiotic use for acute respiratory… (2015) · Cochrane
OR 0.86 [0.57, 1.3]2 studies · 1052 participantsLow