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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Inhaled corticosteroids vs placebo Average number of exacerbations per participant · people with bronchiectasis Inhaled corticosteroids for bronchiectasis (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 127 participants | Low |
Inhaled corticosteroids vs placebo Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P aeruginosa) colonisation · people with bronchiectasis Inhaled corticosteroids for bronchiectasis (2018) · Cochrane | OR 0.94 [0.45, 1.96] | 2 studies · 156 participants | Low |
Inhaled corticosteroids vs placebo Lung function indices ‐ FEV1% predicted (end study minus baseline values) · people with bronchiectasis Inhaled corticosteroids for bronchiectasis (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 86 participants | Low |
Inhaled corticosteroids vs placebo Lung function indices ‐ FVC % predicted (end study minus baseline values) · people with bronchiectasis Inhaled corticosteroids for bronchiectasis (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 86 participants | Low |
Influenza vaccine vs placebo Total exacerbations per participant · chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Influenza vaccine for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 180 participants | Low |
Influenza vaccine vs placebo Early exacerbations per participant · chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Influenza vaccine for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 180 participants | Low |
Influenza vaccine vs placebo Late exacerbations per participant · chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Influenza vaccine for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 180 participants | Low |
Influenza vaccine vs placebo Days disability from respiratory illness · chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Influenza vaccine for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Influenza vaccine vs placebo Hospital admissions · chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Influenza vaccine for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (2018) · Cochrane | OR 0.33 [0.09, 1.24] | 2 studies · 180 participants | Low |
Influenza vaccine vs placebo Mortality · chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Influenza vaccine for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (2018) · Cochrane | OR 0.87 [0.28, 2.7] | 2 studies · 180 participants | Low |
Influenza vaccine vs placebo Local effects at injection site · chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Influenza vaccine for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (2018) · Cochrane | OR 5.57 [1.75, 17.71] | 1 study · 125 participants | Low |
Antibiotics vs placebo or usual care ICU/HDU admission ‐ not reported · acute asthma exacerbation Antibiotics for exacerbations of asthma (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Antibiotics vs placebo or usual care Symptom score at 10 days. Measured on a 7‐point scale (0 to 6) ; lower score denotes fewer symptoms · acute asthma exacerbation Antibiotics for exacerbations of asthma (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 2 participants | Moderate |
Antibiotics vs placebo or usual care All adverse events · acute asthma exacerbation Antibiotics for exacerbations of asthma (2018) · Cochrane | OR 0.99 [0.69, 1.43] | 3 studies · 506 participants | Low |
Antibiotics vs placebo or usual care Serious adverse events Duration 3 days to 3 weeks · acute asthma exacerbation Antibiotics for exacerbations of asthma (2018) · Cochrane | RD 0 | 3 studies · 502 participants | Low |
Antibiotics vs placebo or usual care Mortality ‐ not reported · acute asthma exacerbation Antibiotics for exacerbations of asthma (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Antibiotics vs placebo or usual care Length of hospital stay, days · acute asthma exacerbation Antibiotics for exacerbations of asthma (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 43 participants | Very low |
Antibiotics vs placebo or usual care Relapse after index presentation ‐ not reported · acute asthma exacerbation Antibiotics for exacerbations of asthma (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Antibiotics vs placebo or usual care PEFR (GIV) Duration 10 days · acute asthma exacerbation Antibiotics for exacerbations of asthma (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 469 participants | Moderate |
Nurse‐led care vs doctor‐led care Exacerbations requiring treatment with antibiotics (per patient per year) Assessed by clinician identified or participant self‐reported · management of bronchiectasis Nurse‐led versus doctor‐led care for bronchiectasis (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 80 participants | Low |
Nurse‐led care vs doctor‐led care Hospital admissions (per patient per year). · management of bronchiectasis Nurse‐led versus doctor‐led care for bronchiectasis (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 80 participants | Low |
Nurse‐led care vs doctor‐led care Emergency department attendance · management of bronchiectasis Nurse‐led versus doctor‐led care for bronchiectasis (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Nurse‐led care vs doctor‐led care Mortality · management of bronchiectasis Nurse‐led versus doctor‐led care for bronchiectasis (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | Low |
Nurse‐led care vs doctor‐led care Cost‐effectiveness Total cost for duration of study and difference in cost for first and second years Cost scale: £ per participant · management of bronchiectasis Nurse‐led versus doctor‐led care for bronchiectasis (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | Low |
Nurse‐led care vs doctor‐led care Quality of life, · management of bronchiectasis Nurse‐led versus doctor‐led care for bronchiectasis (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 79 participants | Low |
Nurse‐led care vs doctor‐led care Exercise capacity: 12MWT · management of bronchiectasis Nurse‐led versus doctor‐led care for bronchiectasis (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 80 participants | Low |
Nurse‐led care vs doctor‐led care FEV1 · management of bronchiectasis Nurse‐led versus doctor‐led care for bronchiectasis (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 80 participants | Low |
Antibiotics vs placebo Children not cured or substantially improved at · prolonged wet cough in children Antibiotics for prolonged wet cough in children (2018) · Cochrane | OR 0.15 [0.07, 0.31] | 3 studies · 190 participants | Moderate |
Antibiotics vs placebo Children with progression of the disease resulting in additional medical therapy (complications) (measured as proportion of participants) · prolonged wet cough in children Antibiotics for prolonged wet cough in children (2018) · Cochrane | OR 0.1 [0.03, 0.34] | 2 studies · 125 participants | Moderate |
Antibiotics vs placebo Children experiencing adverse effects of antibiotics (e.g. diarrhoea, nausea, skin rash, allergic reactions (measured as proportion of participants)) · prolonged wet cough in children Antibiotics for prolonged wet cough in children (2018) · Cochrane | OR 1.88 [0.62, 5.69] | 3 studies · 190 participants | Low |
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment Treatment failure Need for additional treatment · patients with acute exacerbations of COPD Different durations of corticosteroid therapy for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2018) · Cochrane | OR 0.72 [0.36, 1.46] | 4 studies · 457 participants | Moderate |
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment Relapse New acute exacerbation or COPD‐related admission · patients with acute exacerbations of COPD Different durations of corticosteroid therapy for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2018) · Cochrane | OR 1.04 [0.7, 1.56] | 4 studies · 478 participants | Moderate |
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment Adverse drug effect—hyperglycaemia · patients with acute exacerbations of COPD Different durations of corticosteroid therapy for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2018) · Cochrane | OR 0.99 [0.64, 1.53] | 2 studies · 345 participants | Moderate |
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment Adverse drug effects Gastrointestinal tract bleeding, symptomatic gastrointestinal reflux, symptoms of congestive heart failure or ischaemic heart disease, sleep disturbance, fractures, depression · patients with acute exacerbations of COPD Different durations of corticosteroid therapy for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2018) · Cochrane | OR 0.88 [0.46, 1.7] | 5 studies · 503 participants | Low |
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment Mortality · patients with acute exacerbations of COPD Different durations of corticosteroid therapy for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2018) · Cochrane | OR 0.91 [0.4, 2.06] | 2 studies · 336 participants | Moderate |
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment Length of hospitalisation (days) · patients with acute exacerbations of COPD Different durations of corticosteroid therapy for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 421 participants | Moderate |
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment Lung function (end of treatment) FEV1 (L) · patients with acute exacerbations of COPD Different durations of corticosteroid therapy for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 4 studies · 187 participants | Very low |
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment Health‐related quality of life (QOL) Overall score (includes activity limitations, symptoms, fatigue, emotional functioning); scale 0 best to 6 worst; minimum important difference 0.5 · patients with acute exacerbations of COPD Different durations of corticosteroid therapy for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 271 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR Adults and adolescents · adults and children with chronic asthma Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Intervention NR Asthma‐related non‐fatal SAEc · adults and children with chronic asthma Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events (2018) · Cochrane | OR 1.25 [0.72, 2.16] | 8 studies · 8453 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR All‐cause mortality · adults and children with chronic asthma Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events (2018) · Cochrane | OR 0.8 [0.36, 1.78] | 41 studies · 27951 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR All‐cause non‐fatal SAEc · adults and children with chronic asthma Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events (2018) · Cochrane | OR 1.14 [0.97, 1.33] | 41 studies · 27951 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR Asthma‐related mortality · adults and children with chronic asthma Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 41 studies · 27951 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR Asthma‐related non‐fatal SAEc · adults and children with chronic asthma Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events (2018) · Cochrane | OR 1.15 [0.83, 1.59] | 41 studies · 27951 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Children · adults and children with chronic asthma Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Intervention NR All‐cause mortality · adults and children with chronic asthma Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 8 studies · 8453 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR All‐cause non‐fatal SAEc · adults and children with chronic asthma Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events (2018) · Cochrane | OR 1.04 [0.73, 1.48] | 8 studies · 8453 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR Asthma‐related mortality · adults and children with chronic asthma Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 8 studies · 8453 participants | Moderate |
Antibiotics vs placebo Number of people with one or more exacerbations WMD of · Adults (aged 40 or over) with COPD presenting with 1 or more exacerbations in the previous year. The two larger… Prophylactic antibiotic therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (2018) · Cochrane | OR 0.57 [0.42, 0.78] | 8 studies · 2716 participants | Moderate |
Antibiotics vs placebo Rate of exacerbation per patient/year WMD of · Adults (aged 40 or over) with COPD presenting with 1 or more exacerbations in the previous year. The two larger… Prophylactic antibiotic therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (2018) · Cochrane | Rate ratio 0.67 [0.54, 0.83] | 5 studies · 1384 participants | Moderate |