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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)

2,325 questions in 216 reviews · Airways

current versions
No 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.

QuestionEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Inhaled corticosteroids vs placebo
Average number of exacerbations per participant · people with bronchiectasis
Inhaled corticosteroids for bronchiectasis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 127 participantsLow
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 participantsLow
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 extracted1 study · 86 participantsLow
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 extracted1 study · 86 participantsLow
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 extracted2 studies · 180 participantsLow
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 extracted2 studies · 180 participantsLow
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 extracted2 studies · 180 participantsLow
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 extractedNRNo 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 participantsLow
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 participantsLow
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 participantsLow
Antibiotics vs placebo or usual care
ICU/HDU admission ‐ not reported · acute asthma exacerbation
Antibiotics for exacerbations of asthma (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo 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 extracted2 studies · 2 participantsModerate
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 participantsLow
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 03 studies · 502 participantsLow
Antibiotics vs placebo or usual care
Mortality ‐ not reported · acute asthma exacerbation
Antibiotics for exacerbations of asthma (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Antibiotics vs placebo or usual care
Length of hospital stay, days · acute asthma exacerbation
Antibiotics for exacerbations of asthma (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 43 participantsVery 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 extractedNRNo studies
Antibiotics vs placebo or usual care
PEFR (GIV) Duration 10 days · acute asthma exacerbation
Antibiotics for exacerbations of asthma (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 469 participantsModerate
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 extracted1 study · 80 participantsLow
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 extracted1 study · 80 participantsLow
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 extractedNRNo studies
Nurse‐led care vs doctor‐led care
Mortality · management of bronchiectasis
Nurse‐led versus doctor‐led care for bronchiectasis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRLow
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 extractedNRLow
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 extracted1 study · 79 participantsLow
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 extracted1 study · 80 participantsLow
Nurse‐led care vs doctor‐led care
FEV1 · management of bronchiectasis
Nurse‐led versus doctor‐led care for bronchiectasis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 80 participantsLow
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 participantsModerate
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 participantsModerate
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 participantsLow
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 participantsModerate
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 participantsModerate
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 participantsModerate
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 participantsLow
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 participantsModerate
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 extracted3 studies · 421 participantsModerate
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 extracted4 studies · 187 participantsVery 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 extracted1 study · 271 participantsModerate
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 extractedNRNo 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 participantsModerate
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 participantsModerate
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 participantsModerate
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 extracted41 studies · 27951 participantsModerate
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 participantsLow
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 extractedNRNo 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 extracted8 studies · 8453 participantsModerate
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 participantsModerate
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 extracted8 studies · 8453 participantsModerate
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 participantsModerate
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 participantsModerate