Gap finder

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
Intervention NR
Change from baseline in morning PEFR (L/min) Duration of trials: 6 to 16 weeks · adults and adolescents with persistent asthma
Addition of anti‐leukotriene agents to inhaled corticosteroids for adults and adolescents with persistent… (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 1489 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
Change from baseline FEV1 (L) Duration of trials: 6 to 16 weeks · adults and adolescents with persistent asthma
Addition of anti‐leukotriene agents to inhaled corticosteroids for adults and adolescents with persistent… (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 760 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
Change from baseline in mean asthma symptom score (daytime) Greater the reduction, better the outcome Duration of trials: 6 to 16 weeks · adults and adolescents with persistent asthma
Addition of anti‐leukotriene agents to inhaled corticosteroids for adults and adolescents with persistent… (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 1386 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
Overall adverse effects Duration of trials: 6 to 16 weeks · adults and adolescents with persistent asthma
Addition of anti‐leukotriene agents to inhaled corticosteroids for adults and adolescents with persistent… (2017) · Cochrane
RR 1.06 [0.92, 1.22]3 studies · 1024 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Death Duration of trials: 6 to 16 weeks · adults and adolescents with persistent asthma
Addition of anti‐leukotriene agents to inhaled corticosteroids for adults and adolescents with persistent… (2017) · Cochrane
RR 0.35 [0.01, 8.49]2 studies · 761 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Patients with ≥ 1 exacerbation requiring oral corticosteroids Duration of trials: 8 to 13 weeks · adults and adolescents with persistent asthma
Addition of anti‐leukotriene agents to inhaled corticosteroids for adults and adolescents with persistent… (2017) · Cochrane
RR 0.9 [0.58, 1.39]4 studies · 1779 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Change from baseline in morning PEFR (L/min) Duration of trials: 8 to 13 weeks · adults and adolescents with persistent asthma
Addition of anti‐leukotriene agents to inhaled corticosteroids for adults and adolescents with persistent… (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 952 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Change from baseline FEV1 (L) Duration of trials: 8 to 13 weeks · adults and adolescents with persistent asthma
Addition of anti‐leukotriene agents to inhaled corticosteroids for adults and adolescents with persistent… (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 958 participantsLow
Smart technology vs face‐to‐face/digital and/or written support
Hospital admission · adults with a clinical diagnosis of COPD
Computer and mobile technology interventions for self‐management in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 239 participantsLow
Smart technology vs face‐to‐face/digital and/or written support
Acute exacerbations requiring general practitioner (GP) visit and/or additional treatment · adults with a clinical diagnosis of COPD
Computer and mobile technology interventions for self‐management in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 239 participantsLow
Smart technology vs face‐to‐face/digital and/or written support
Health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) · adults with a clinical diagnosis of COPD
Computer and mobile technology interventions for self‐management in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 472 participantsLow
Smart technology vs face‐to‐face/digital and/or written support
Daily step count · adults with a clinical diagnosis of COPD
Computer and mobile technology interventions for self‐management in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 230 participantsLow
Smart technology vs face‐to‐face/digital and/or written support
Self‐efficacy · adults with a clinical diagnosis of COPD
Computer and mobile technology interventions for self‐management in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 participantsUngraded
Smart technology vs face‐to‐face/digital and/or written support
Behaviour change: smoking cessation · adults with a clinical diagnosis of COPD
Computer and mobile technology interventions for self‐management in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 284 participantsModerate
Smart technology vs face‐to‐face/digital and/or written support
Functional capacity (6‐minute walking test or similar) · adults with a clinical diagnosis of COPD
Computer and mobile technology interventions for self‐management in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 participantsUngraded
Smart technology vs face‐to‐face/digital and/or written support
Anxiety and depression · adults with a clinical diagnosis of COPD
Computer and mobile technology interventions for self‐management in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 participantsUngraded
Self‐management interventions including action plans for exacerbations vs usual care
Health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) · patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Self‐management interventions including action plans for exacerbations versus usual care in patients with… (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted10 studies · 1582 participantsHigh
Self‐management interventions including action plans for exacerbations vs usual care
Respiratory‐related hospital admissions · patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Self‐management interventions including action plans for exacerbations versus usual care in patients with… (2017) · Cochrane
OR 0.69 [0.51, 0.94]14 studies · 3157 participantsModerate
Self‐management interventions including action plans for exacerbations vs usual care
All‐cause hospital admissions · patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Self‐management interventions including action plans for exacerbations versus usual care in patients with… (2017) · Cochrane
OR 0.74 [0.54, 1.03]10 studies · 2467 participantsModerate
Self‐management interventions including action plans for exacerbations vs usual care
All‐cause mortality · patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Self‐management interventions including action plans for exacerbations versus usual care in patients with… (2017) · Cochrane
OR 1.06 [0.71, 1.59]16 studies · 3296 participantsModerate
Self‐management interventions including action plans for exacerbations vs usual care
Respiratory‐related mortality · patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Self‐management interventions including action plans for exacerbations versus usual care in patients with… (2017) · Cochrane
OR 1.94 [1.2, 3.13]7 studies · 1219 participantsVery low
Self‐management interventions including action plans for exacerbations vs usual care
Dyspnoea · patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Self‐management interventions including action plans for exacerbations versus usual care in patients with… (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 217 participantsLow
Self‐management interventions including action plans for exacerbations vs usual care
COPD exacerbations · patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Self‐management interventions including action plans for exacerbations versus usual care in patients with… (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 740 participantsModerate
Self‐management interventions including action plans for exacerbations vs usual care
Courses of oral steroids · patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Self‐management interventions including action plans for exacerbations versus usual care in patients with… (2017) · Cochrane
OR 4.38 [0.55, 34.91]4 studies · 963 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Cough‐related quality of life (QOL) · people with bronchiectasis
Positive expiratory pressure therapy versus other airway clearance techniques for bronchiectasis (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted31 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) disease‐specific HRQOL · people with bronchiectasis
Positive expiratory pressure therapy versus other airway clearance techniques for bronchiectasis (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted17 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Incidence of acute exacerbations of bronchiectasis ‐ not reported · people with bronchiectasis
Positive expiratory pressure therapy versus other airway clearance techniques for bronchiectasis (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Duration of acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis ‐ not reported · people with bronchiectasis
Positive expiratory pressure therapy versus other airway clearance techniques for bronchiectasis (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Incidence of hospitalisation ‐ not reported · people with bronchiectasis
Positive expiratory pressure therapy versus other airway clearance techniques for bronchiectasis (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
ICS dose reduction vs no change
Exacerbation requiring OCS · adults with asthma
Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma (2017) · Cochrane
OR 1.86 [0.16, 21.09]2 studies · 261 participantsVery low
ICS dose reduction vs no change
All‐cause SAEs · adults with asthma
Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma (2017) · Cochrane
OR 0.6 [0.11, 3.33]2 studies · 569 participantsLow
ICS dose reduction vs no change
Steroid‐related AEs ‐ not reported · adults with asthma
Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
ICS dose reduction vs no change
St. George's Respiratory Scale score (change from baseline) · adults with asthma
Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 229 participantsLow
ICS dose reduction vs no change
Exacerbation requiring hospitalisation · adults with asthma
Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma (2017) · Cochrane
OR 4.06 [0.45, 36.86]2 studies · 569 participantsLow
ICS dose reduction vs no change
Lung function, reduction in FEV1 (% predicted, change from baseline) · adults with asthma
Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 14 participantsVery low
ICS dose reduction vs no change
Asthma control assessed by: Asthma Symptom Scale from: 0 (no symptoms) to 5 (severe symptoms) · adults with asthma
Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 150 participantsLow
ICS dose reduction vs no change
All‐cause SAEs · adults with asthma
Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma (2017) · Cochrane
OR 1.24 [0.25, 6.25]2 studies · 742 participantsLow
ICS dose reduction vs no change
Steroid‐related AEs · adults with asthma
Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma (2017) · Cochrane
OR 0.76 [0.16, 3.54]2 studies · 261 participantsVery low
ICS dose reduction vs no change
Health‐related quality of life (change from baseline) assessed by: AQLQ · adults with asthma
Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 554 participantsVery low
ICS dose reduction vs no change
Lung function, FEV1 (L) assessed by: spirometry · adults with asthma
Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 261 participantsLow
ICS dose reduction vs no change
Exacerbations requiring hospitalisation ‐ not reported · adults with asthma
Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
ICS dose reduction vs no change
Exacerbation requiring OCS · adults with asthma
Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma (2017) · Cochrane
OR 1.31 [0.82, 2.08]2 studies · 569 participantsLow
ICS dose reduction vs no change
Asthma control (short asthma morbidity score) · adults with asthma
Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 242 participantsLow
PAAP vs no PAAP
Exacerbation requiring ED or hospitalisation. · adults with asthma
Personalised asthma action plans for adults with asthma (2017) · Cochrane
OR 0.75 [0.45, 1.24]5 studies · 1385 participantsLow
PAAP plus education vs education alone
Serious adverse events (including death). · adults with asthma
Personalised asthma action plans for adults with asthma (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
PAAP plus education vs education alone
Quality of life, change from baseline in AQLQ score. · adults with asthma
Personalised asthma action plans for adults with asthma (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 174 participantsLow
PAAP plus education vs education alone
Exacerbation requiring OCS. · adults with asthma
Personalised asthma action plans for adults with asthma (2017) · Cochrane
OR 0.28 [0.07, 1.12]1 study · 70 participantsVery low
PAAP plus education vs education alone
Lung function. · adults with asthma
Personalised asthma action plans for adults with asthma (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
PAAP plus education vs education alone
Days lost from work or study. · adults with asthma
Personalised asthma action plans for adults with asthma (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
PAAP vs no PAAP
Asthma control, change from baseline in ACQ. · adults with asthma
Personalised asthma action plans for adults with asthma (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 141 participantsLow