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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.
2,325 questions in 216 reviews · Airways
current versionsNo 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.
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Mucolytic vs placebo Outcomes* · chronic bronchitis or COPD Mucolytic agents versus placebo for chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Mucolytic vs placebo Participants with no exacerbations in study period · chronic bronchitis or COPD Mucolytic agents versus placebo for chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2019) · Cochrane | Peto OR 1.73 [1.56, 1.91] | 28 studies · 6723 participants | Moderate |
Mucolytic vs placebo Days of disability per participant per month · chronic bronchitis or COPD Mucolytic agents versus placebo for chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 9 studies · 2259 participants | Moderate |
Mucolytic vs placebo Health‐related quality of life (total score SGRQ) Scale from 1 to 100; lower scores indicate better quality of life · chronic bronchitis or COPD Mucolytic agents versus placebo for chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 7 studies · 2721 participants | Moderate |
Mucolytic vs placebo Hospitalisation during study period · chronic bronchitis or COPD Mucolytic agents versus placebo for chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2019) · Cochrane | Peto OR 0.68 [0.52, 0.89] | 5 studies · 1833 participants | Moderate |
Mucolytic vs placebo FEV₁at end of study · chronic bronchitis or COPD Mucolytic agents versus placebo for chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 14 studies · 3473 participants | Moderate |
Mucolytic vs placebo Adverse effects · chronic bronchitis or COPD Mucolytic agents versus placebo for chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2019) · Cochrane | Peto OR 0.84 [0.74, 0.94] | 24 studies · 7264 participants | Moderate |
Mucolytic vs placebo Death during study period · chronic bronchitis or COPD Mucolytic agents versus placebo for chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2019) · Cochrane | Peto OR 0.98 [0.51, 1.87] | 11 studies · 3527 participants | Moderate |
Fibrinolytics vs placebo Mortality. · adult parapneumonic effusions and empyema Intra‐pleural fibrinolytic therapy versus placebo, or a different fibrinolytic agent, in the treatment of… (2019) · Cochrane | OR 1.16 [0.71, 1.91] | 8 studies · 867 participants | Moderate |
Alteplase vs urokinase Referral for thoracic surgery (open or thorascopic) · adult parapneumonic effusions and empyema Intra‐pleural fibrinolytic therapy versus placebo, or a different fibrinolytic agent, in the treatment of… (2019) · Cochrane | OR 0.46 [0.04, 5.24] | 1 study · 99 participants | Low |
Alteplase vs urokinase Overall treatment failure, including mortality, thoracic surgery or referral for further fibrinolytic therapy · adult parapneumonic effusions and empyema Intra‐pleural fibrinolytic therapy versus placebo, or a different fibrinolytic agent, in the treatment of… (2019) · Cochrane | OR 3.02 [0.89, 10.27] | 1 study · 99 participants | Low |
Alteplase vs urokinase Serious adverse events · adult parapneumonic effusions and empyema Intra‐pleural fibrinolytic therapy versus placebo, or a different fibrinolytic agent, in the treatment of… (2019) · Cochrane | OR 5.61 [1.16, 27.11] | 1 study · 99 participants | Low |
Fibrinolytics vs placebo Referral for thoracic surgery. · adult parapneumonic effusions and empyema Intra‐pleural fibrinolytic therapy versus placebo, or a different fibrinolytic agent, in the treatment of… (2019) · Cochrane | OR 0.37 [0.21, 0.68] | 8 studies · 897 participants | Low |
Fibrinolytics vs placebo Overall treatment failure, including mortality, thoracic surgery or referral for further fibrinolytic therapy. · adult parapneumonic effusions and empyema Intra‐pleural fibrinolytic therapy versus placebo, or a different fibrinolytic agent, in the treatment of… (2019) · Cochrane | OR 0.16 [0.05, 0.58] | 7 studies · 769 participants | Very low |
Fibrinolytics vs placebo Serious adverse events · adult parapneumonic effusions and empyema Intra‐pleural fibrinolytic therapy versus placebo, or a different fibrinolytic agent, in the treatment of… (2019) · Cochrane | OR 1.28 [0.36, 4.57] | 9 studies · 935 participants | Low |
Streptokinase vs urokinase Mortality · adult parapneumonic effusions and empyema Intra‐pleural fibrinolytic therapy versus placebo, or a different fibrinolytic agent, in the treatment of… (2019) · Cochrane | OR 0.32 [0.01, 8.25] | 1 study · 50 participants | Low |
Streptokinase vs urokinase Referral for thoracic surgery (open or thorascopic) · adult parapneumonic effusions and empyema Intra‐pleural fibrinolytic therapy versus placebo, or a different fibrinolytic agent, in the treatment of… (2019) · Cochrane | OR 1 [0.13, 7.72] | 1 study · 50 participants | Low |
Streptokinase vs urokinase Overall treatment failure, including mortality, thoracic surgery or referral for further fibrinolytic therapy · adult parapneumonic effusions and empyema Intra‐pleural fibrinolytic therapy versus placebo, or a different fibrinolytic agent, in the treatment of… (2019) · Cochrane | OR 1 [0.13, 7.72] | 1 study · 50 participants | Low |
Streptokinase vs urokinase Serious adverse events · adult parapneumonic effusions and empyema Intra‐pleural fibrinolytic therapy versus placebo, or a different fibrinolytic agent, in the treatment of… (2019) · Cochrane | OR 5.43 [0.25, 118.96] | 1 study · 50 participants | Low |
Alteplase vs urokinase Mortality · adult parapneumonic effusions and empyema Intra‐pleural fibrinolytic therapy versus placebo, or a different fibrinolytic agent, in the treatment of… (2019) · Cochrane | OR 0.94 [0.18, 4.89] | 1 study · 99 participants | Low |
Auto‐CPAP vs fixed CPAP Average machine usage (hours per night) Median · adults with a diagnosis of OSA Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 31 studies · 1452 participants | Moderate |
Bi‐PAP vs fixed CPAP Machine usage assessed by number of participants using machine for 4 or more hours per night ‐ not measured · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Bi‐PAP vs fixed CPAP Symptoms · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 4 studies · 226 participants | Low |
Bi‐PAP vs fixed CPAP Withdrawals (parallel group trials/first arm cross‐over trials) · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | OR 0.55 [0.26, 1.17] | 3 studies · 261 participants | Low |
Bi‐PAP vs fixed CPAP Quality of life · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 151 participants | Low |
Bi‐PAP vs fixed CPAP AHI · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 179 participants | Low |
Bi‐PAP vs fixed CPAP Blood pressure ‐ not measured · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Bi‐PAP vs fixed CPAP Adverse events (machine tolerability outcomes) · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 5 studies · 239 participants | Very low |
CPAP with expiratory pressure relief vs fixed CPAP Machine usage assessed by hours/night · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 9 studies · 609 participants | Low |
CPAP with expiratory pressure relief vs fixed CPAP Machine usage assessed by number of participants using machine for 4 or more hours per night ‐ not measured · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
CPAP with expiratory pressure relief vs fixed CPAP Symptoms · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 6 studies · 515 participants | Moderate |
Auto‐CPAP vs fixed CPAP Number of participants using machine for 4 or more hours per night · adults with a diagnosis of OSA Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | OR 1.16 [0.75, 1.81] | 2 studies · 346 participants | Low |
CPAP with expiratory pressure relief vs fixed CPAP Withdrawals (parallel group trials/first arm cross‐over trials) · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | OR 0.86 [0.48, 1.55] | 2 studies · 298 participants | Low |
CPAP with expiratory pressure relief vs fixed CPAP Quality of life · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 74 participants | Low |
CPAP with expiratory pressure relief vs fixed CPAP AHI measured by number of events/hr · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 5 studies · 342 participants | High |
CPAP with expiratory pressure relief vs fixed CPAP Blood pressure ‐ not measured · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
CPAP with expiratory pressure relief vs fixed CPAP Adverse events (machine tolerability outcomes) · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 6 studies · 577 participants | Very low |
Heated humidification + fixed CPAP vs fixed CPAP alone Machine usage assessed by hours per night · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 6 studies · 277 participants | Low |
Heated humidification + fixed CPAP vs fixed CPAP alone Machine usage assessed by number of participants using machine for 4 or more hours per night ‐ not measured · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Heated humidification + fixed CPAP vs fixed CPAP alone Symptoms · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 4 studies · 184 participants | Low |
Heated humidification + fixed CPAP vs fixed CPAP alone Withdrawals (parallel group trials/first arm cross‐over trials) · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | OR 1 [0.45, 2.24] | 3 studies · 316 participants | Very low |
Heated humidification + fixed CPAP vs fixed CPAP alone Quality of life · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Auto‐CPAP vs fixed CPAP Symptoms · adults with a diagnosis of OSA Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 25 studies · 1285 participants | Moderate |
Heated humidification + fixed CPAP vs fixed CPAP alone AHI measured by number of events/hr · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 44 participants | Low |
Heated humidification + fixed CPAP vs fixed CPAP alone Blood pressure ‐ not measured · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Heated humidification + fixed CPAP vs fixed CPAP alone Adverse events (machine tolerability outcomes) assessed as number of participants experiencing a blocked nose · adults with a diagnosis of sleep apnoea Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | OR 0.32 [0.16, 0.63] | 2 studies · 147 participants | Low |
Auto‐CPAP vs fixed CPAP Withdrawals (parallel group trials/first arm cross‐over trials) Median · adults with a diagnosis of OSA Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | OR 0.9 [0.64, 1.27] | 13 studies · 1275 participants | Moderate |
Auto‐CPAP vs fixed CPAP Quality of life · adults with a diagnosis of OSA Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 352 participants | Low |
Auto‐CPAP vs fixed CPAP AHI measured by number of events/hr Median · adults with a diagnosis of OSA Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 26 studies · 1256 participants | High |
Auto‐CPAP vs fixed CPAP Blood pressure (mmHg) · adults with a diagnosis of OSA Pressure modification or humidification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 353 participants | Moderate |