What do systematic reviews say?

Tiotropium vs placebo

Tiotropium showed no clear difference in mortality compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Tiotropium versus placebo for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.98 [0.86, 1.11]
  22 studies · 23309 participants
  Moderate

CPR plus delayed defibrillation vs immediate defibrillation: overall analysis

CPR plus delayed defibrillation showed no clear difference in survival to hospital discharge rate compared with immediate defibrillation: overall analysis (low certainty).

• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) plus delayed defibrillation versus immediate defibrillation for out‐of‐hospital… 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.09 [0.54, 2.2]
  3 studies · 658 participants
  Low

CPR plus delayed defibrillation vs immediate defibrillation: overall analysis

CPR plus delayed defibrillation showed no clear difference in neurological outcome at hospital discharge rate of good recovery compared with immediate defibrillation: overall analysis (low certainty).

• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) plus delayed defibrillation versus immediate defibrillation for out‐of‐hospital… 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.12 [0.65, 1.93]
  3 studies · 2834 participants
  Low

CPR plus delayed defibrillation vs immediate defibrillation: overall analysis

CPR plus delayed defibrillation showed no clear difference in ROSC rate compared with immediate defibrillation: overall analysis (low certainty).

• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) plus delayed defibrillation versus immediate defibrillation for out‐of‐hospital… 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.94 [0.77, 1.15]
  3 studies · 658 participants
  Low

CPR plus delayed defibrillation vs immediate defibrillation: overall analysis

CPR plus delayed defibrillation showed no clear difference in survival at 1 year rate compared with immediate defibrillation: overall analysis (low certainty).

• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) plus delayed defibrillation versus immediate defibrillation for out‐of‐hospital… 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.77 [0.24, 2.49]
  2 studies · 456 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

• Pulmonary artery catheters for adult patients in intensive care 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 2723 participants
  High

Intervention not reported

• Pulmonary artery catheters for adult patients in intensive care 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 1689 participants
  High

Intervention not reported

• Pulmonary artery catheters for adult patients in intensive care 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  5 studies · 503 participants
  High

Intervention not reported

• Pulmonary artery catheters for adult patients in intensive care 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 191 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

The intervention leads to higher combined mortality of all studies (high certainty).

• Pulmonary artery catheters for adult patients in intensive care 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.01
  13 studies · 5686 participants
  High

Combined inhalers vs placebo (outcomes

Combined inhalers probably leads to lower annual exacerbation rates compared with placebo (primary outcomes) (moderate certainty).

• Combined corticosteroid and long‐acting beta₂‐agonist in one inhaler versus placebo for chronic obstructive pulmonary… 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  Rate ratio 0.73 [0.69, 0.78]
  7473 participants
  Moderate

Budesonide/formoterol (BDF) vs placebo

Budesonide/formoterol (BDF) showed no clear difference in adverse events—'serious'—320/94 Duration of 10 months3 compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Combined corticosteroid and long‐acting beta₂‐agonist in one inhaler versus placebo for chronic obstructive pulmonary… 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.17 [0.95, 1.45]
  2476 participants
  Low

Budesonide/formoterol (BDF) vs placebo

Budesonide/formoterol (BDF) showed no clear difference in adverse events—'serious'—160/94 Duration of nine months 3 compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Combined corticosteroid and long‐acting beta₂‐agonist in one inhaler versus placebo for chronic obstructive pulmonary… 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.2 [0.89, 1.63]
  1556 participants
  Low

Combined inhalers vs placebo (outcomes

Combined inhalers probably leads to lower participants with at least one exacerbation Duration of six months3 compared with placebo (primary outcomes) (moderate certainty).

• Combined corticosteroid and long‐acting beta₂‐agonist in one inhaler versus placebo for chronic obstructive pulmonary… 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.78 [0.66, 0.93]
  3141 participants
  Moderate

Combined inhalers vs placebo (outcomes

Combined inhalers probably leads to lower mortality Duration of 18 months3 compared with placebo (primary outcomes) (moderate certainty).

• Combined corticosteroid and long‐acting beta₂‐agonist in one inhaler versus placebo for chronic obstructive pulmonary… 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.82 [0.68, 0.99]
  16 studies · 10129 participants
  Moderate

Combined inhalers vs placebo (outcomes

Combined inhalers probably leads to higher pneumonia Duration of 18 months3 compared with placebo (primary outcomes) (moderate certainty).

• Combined corticosteroid and long‐acting beta₂‐agonist in one inhaler versus placebo for chronic obstructive pulmonary… 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.62 [1.36, 1.94]
  14 studies · 9620 participants
  Moderate

Combined inhalers vs placebo (outcomes

Combined inhalers showed no clear difference in hospitalisations due to COPD exacerbations Duration of 18 months3 compared with placebo (primary outcomes) (low certainty).

• Combined corticosteroid and long‐acting beta₂‐agonist in one inhaler versus placebo for chronic obstructive pulmonary… 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.93 [0.81, 1.06]
  12 studies · 9492 participants
  Low

Combination fluticasone/salmeterol vs placebo

Fluticasone/salmeterol (FPS) showed no clear difference in adverse events—any Duration of two years1 compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Combined corticosteroid and long‐acting beta₂‐agonist in one inhaler versus placebo for chronic obstructive pulmonary… 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.09 [0.95, 1.25]
  5574 participants
  Low

Combination fluticasone/salmeterol vs placebo

Fluticasone/salmeterol (FPS) showed no clear difference in adverse events—'serious' Duration of two years1 compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Combined corticosteroid and long‐acting beta₂‐agonist in one inhaler versus placebo for chronic obstructive pulmonary… 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.08 [0.95, 1.23]
  5531 participants
  Low

Budesonide/formoterol (BDF) vs placebo

Budesonide/formoterol (BDF) may leads to higher adverse event—any—320/94 Duration of nine months 3 compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Combined corticosteroid and long‐acting beta₂‐agonist in one inhaler versus placebo for chronic obstructive pulmonary… 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.42 [1.16, 1.74]
  1552 participants
  Low