What do systematic reviews say?

MgSO4 vs placebo

MgSO4 showed no clear difference in return to ED within 48 hours compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Intravenous magnesium sulfate for treating children with acute asthma in the emergency department 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.4 [0.02, 10.3]
  2 studies · 85 participants
  Low

MgSO4 vs placebo

• Intravenous magnesium sulfate for treating children with acute asthma in the emergency department 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 47 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

The intervention leads to lower hospital admissions (high certainty).

• Intravenous magnesium sulfate for treating adults with acute asthma in the emergency department 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.75 [0.6, 0.92]
  11 studies · 1769 participants
  High

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in intensive care unit (ICU) admissions (low certainty).

• Intravenous magnesium sulfate for treating adults with acute asthma in the emergency department 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 2.03 [0.7, 5.89]
  1 study · 752 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

• Intravenous magnesium sulfate for treating adults with acute asthma in the emergency department 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 949 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

• Intravenous magnesium sulfate for treating adults with acute asthma in the emergency department 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 96 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

• Intravenous magnesium sulfate for treating adults with acute asthma in the emergency department 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 523 participants
  High

Intervention not reported

• Intravenous magnesium sulfate for treating adults with acute asthma in the emergency department 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  8 studies · 1460 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

• Intravenous magnesium sulfate for treating adults with acute asthma in the emergency department 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 1195 participants
  Moderate