What do systematic reviews say?

Antibiotics vs placebo or usual care

• Antibiotics for exacerbations of asthma 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 469 participants
  Moderate

Antibiotics vs placebo

• Antibiotics for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 300 participants
  High

Antibiotics vs placebo

• Antibiotics for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 94 participants
  Moderate

Oral + inhaled dual therapy vs oral monotherapy

It is very uncertain whether oral + inhaled dual therapy changes successful treatment of exacerbation: number of participants cured.… compared with oral monotherapy (very low certainty).

• Dual antibiotics for bronchiectasis 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.66 [0.22, 2.01]
  1 study · 53 participants
  Very low

Oral + inhaled dual therapy vs oral monotherapy

It is very uncertain whether oral + inhaled dual therapy changes successful treatment of exacerbation: number of participants with P… compared with oral monotherapy (very low certainty).

• Dual antibiotics for bronchiectasis 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 2.33 [0.66, 8.24]
  1 study · 53 participants
  Very low

Oral + inhaled dual therapy vs oral monotherapy

It is very uncertain whether oral + inhaled dual therapy changes serious adverse events. Outcome assessed on day 42 compared with oral monotherapy (very low certainty).

• Dual antibiotics for bronchiectasis 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.48 [0.08, 2.87]
  1 study · 53 participants
  Very low

Oral + inhaled dual therapy vs oral monotherapy

It is very uncertain whether oral + inhaled dual therapy changes treatment response: relapse (day 42). Outcome assessed on day 42 compared with oral monotherapy (very low certainty).

• Dual antibiotics for bronchiectasis 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.57 [0.12, 2.69]
  1 study · 53 participants
  Very low

Oral + inhaled dual therapy vs oral monotherapy

It is very uncertain whether oral + inhaled dual therapy changes microbiological response: eradicated. Outcome assessed on day 21 compared with oral monotherapy (very low certainty).

• Dual antibiotics for bronchiectasis 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 2.4 [0.67, 8.65]
  1 study · 49 participants
  Very low

Intramuscular corticosteroids vs oral corticosteroid

Intramuscular corticosteroids showed no clear difference in relapse within 10 days post‐discharge compared with oral corticosteroids (moderate certainty).

• Intramuscular versus oral corticosteroids to reduce relapses following discharge from the emergency department for… 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.74 [0.51, 1.07]
  7 studies · 742 participants
  Moderate
• Intramuscular versus oral corticosteroids to reduce relapses following discharge from the emergency department for… 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.99 [0.74, 1.33]
  5 studies · 556 participants
  Low

MgSO4 + SABA + ipratropium vs SABA + ipratropium

MgSO4 + SABA + ipratropium showed no clear difference in readmission (7 to 30 days) compared with SABA + ipratropium (low certainty).

• Inhaled magnesium sulfate in the treatment of acute asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.8 [0.84, 3.87]
  2 studies · 750 participants
  Low

Non‐invasive ventilation vs usual care

• Non‐invasive ventilation for the management of acute hypercapnic respiratory failure due to exacerbation of chronic… 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  10 studies · 888 participants
  Moderate

Tailored interventions based on sputum eosinophils vs tailored interventions based on clinical symptoms

• Tailored interventions based on sputum eosinophils versus clinical symptoms for asthma in children and adults 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 316 participants
  Low

Tailored interventions based on sputum eosinophils vs tailored interventions based on clinical symptoms

• Tailored interventions based on sputum eosinophils versus clinical symptoms for asthma in children and adults 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 68 participants
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Addition of anti‐leukotriene agents to inhaled corticosteroids for adults and adolescents with persistent asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 1386 participants
  High

PAAP plus education vs education alone

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Personalised asthma action plans for adults with asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

PAAP vs no PAAP

• Personalised asthma action plans for adults with asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 74 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

The intervention probably leads to higher early mortality (90 days) (moderate certainty).

• Lung volume reduction surgery for diffuse emphysema 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 6.16 [3.22, 11.79]
  5 studies · 1489 participants
  Moderate

Children: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course

Children: higher dose/longer course showed no clear difference in asthma symptoms Symptom free by 7 days compared with lower dose/shorter course (moderate certainty).

• Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.22 [0.67, 2.19]
  1 study · 201 participants
  Moderate

Adults: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course

Adults: higher dose/longer course showed no clear difference in asthma symptoms Complete resolution by day 28 compared with lower dose/shorter course (low certainty).

• Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.55 [0.13, 2.26]
  1 study · 35 participants
  Low

Adults: prednisolone vs dexamethasone

Adults: prednisolone showed no clear difference in asthma symptoms Returned to normal activities within 3 days compared with dexamethasone (low certainty).

• Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.44 [0.19, 1.01]
  1 study · 191 participants
  Low