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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Children: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course New exacerbation during · children with an acute exacerbation of asthma Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma (2016) · Cochrane | OR 1.38 [0.25, 7.47] | 2 studies · 231 participants | Low |
Children: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course New exacerbation during · children with an acute exacerbation of asthma Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma (2016) · Cochrane | OR 2.17 [0.67, 7.01] | 1 study · 100 participants | Very low |
Children: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course Lung function tests FEV1% predicted at discharge · children with an acute exacerbation of asthma Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 34 participants | Ungraded |
Children: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course All adverse events · children with an acute exacerbation of asthma Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma (2016) · Cochrane | OR 0.67 [0.11, 4.08] | 1 study · 201 participants | Moderate |
Children: prednisolone vs dexamethasone Admission at initial presentation · children with acute exacerbation of asthma Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma (2016) · Cochrane | OR 1.08 [0.74, 1.58] | 3 studies · 1007 participants | Low |
Adults: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course Asthma symptoms Asthma severity score · adults with an acute exacerbation of asthma Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 44 participants | Low |
Children: prednisolone vs dexamethasone Re‐admission during · children with acute exacerbation of asthma Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma (2016) · Cochrane | OR 0.44 [0.15, 1.33] | 3 studies · 985 participants | Low |
Children: prednisolone vs dexamethasone Asthma symptoms scores Pulmonary Index Score (PIS); Patient Self Assessment Score (PSAS); Paediatric Respiratory Assessment Measure (PRAM) · children with acute exacerbation of asthma Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 328 participants | Very low |
Children: prednisolone vs dexamethasone Asthma symptoms Persistent cough, wheeze, chest tightness, night‐time wakening and difficulty maintaining normal activities · children with acute exacerbation of asthma Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 533 participants | Ungraded |
Children: prednisolone vs dexamethasone Serious adverse events · children with acute exacerbation of asthma Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 255 participants | Ungraded |
Children: prednisolone vs dexamethasone New exacerbation during · children with acute exacerbation of asthma Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma (2016) · Cochrane | OR 0.85 [0.54, 1.34] | 4 studies · 981 participants | Low |
Adults: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course Asthma symptoms Complete resolution by day 28 · adults with an acute exacerbation of asthma Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma (2016) · Cochrane | OR 0.55 [0.13, 2.26] | 1 study · 35 participants | Low |
Adults: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course New exacerbation in · adults with an acute exacerbation of asthma Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma (2016) · Cochrane | OR 0.98 [0.17, 5.56] | 2 studies · 55 participants | Very low |
Adults: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course New exacerbation in · adults with an acute exacerbation of asthma Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma (2016) · Cochrane | OR 0.62 [0.23, 1.68] | 3 studies · 122 participants | Low |
Adults: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course Lung function tests FEV1% predicted · adults with an acute exacerbation of asthma Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 41 participants | Very low |
Adults: higher dose/longer course vs lower dose/shorter course All adverse events · adults with an acute exacerbation of asthma Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma (2016) · Cochrane | OR 4.15 [0.94, 18.41] | 1 study · 43 participants | Very low |
Adults: prednisolone vs dexamethasone Re‐admission during · adults with an acute exacerbation of asthma Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma (2016) · Cochrane | OR 0.35 [0.04, 3.47] | 1 study · 200 participants | Very low |
Adults: prednisolone vs dexamethasone Asthma symptoms Returned to normal activities within 3 days · adults with an acute exacerbation of asthma Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma (2016) · Cochrane | OR 0.44 [0.19, 1.01] | 1 study · 191 participants | Low |
Cognitive behavioural therapy vs usual care Asthma‐related quality of life (AQLQ) · adults and adolescents with asthma Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for adults and adolescents with asthma (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 6 studies · 214 participants | Low |
Cognitive behavioural therapy vs usual care Asthma exacerbations requiring at least a course of oral steroids · adults and adolescents with asthma Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for adults and adolescents with asthma (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Cognitive behavioural therapy vs usual care Asthma control Mean change on the ASC and ACQ (adjusted so lower scores are better) · adults and adolescents with asthma Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for adults and adolescents with asthma (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 95 participants | Low |
Cognitive behavioural therapy vs usual care Unscheduled healthcare visits Mean visits per participant in the 6 months after treatment (lower scores better) Primary care visits included nurse and out‐of‐hours visits · adults and adolescents with asthma Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for adults and adolescents with asthma (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 80 participants | Low |
Cognitive behavioural therapy vs usual care Anxiety scales Mean change on the ASC panic/fear, PSS, and HADS‐Anxiety (lower scores better) · adults and adolescents with asthma Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for adults and adolescents with asthma (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 4 studies · 225 participants | Low |
Cognitive behavioural therapy vs usual care Depression scales Mean change on HADS‐Depression. Endpoint scores on NEM, BDI, and QD (see comment) (lower scores better) · adults and adolescents with asthma Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for adults and adolescents with asthma (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 112 participants | Low |
Cognitive behavioural therapy vs usual care Medication adherence 6‐item Adherence Scale rated 1 to 5 (lower scores better) · adults and adolescents with asthma Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for adults and adolescents with asthma (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 23 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Change in FEV1 1 h after dosing in ml · participants with an exacerbation of COPD; people with asthma excluded from our analysis Bronchodilators delivered by nebuliser versus pMDI with spacer or DPI for exacerbations of COPD (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |
Intervention NR Serious adverse events · participants with an exacerbation of COPD; people with asthma excluded from our analysis Bronchodilators delivered by nebuliser versus pMDI with spacer or DPI for exacerbations of COPD (2016) · Cochrane | OR 1 [0.18, 5.53] | 2 studies · 70 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Change in FEV1 closest to 1 h after dosing in ml · participants with an exacerbation of COPD; people with asthma excluded from our analysis Bronchodilators delivered by nebuliser versus pMDI with spacer or DPI for exacerbations of COPD (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 4 studies · 126 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Change in dyspnoea score during the first 24 h after dosing · participants with an exacerbation of COPD; people with asthma excluded from our analysis Bronchodilators delivered by nebuliser versus pMDI with spacer or DPI for exacerbations of COPD (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 74 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Adverse events/side effects · participants with an exacerbation of COPD; people with asthma excluded from our analysis Bronchodilators delivered by nebuliser versus pMDI with spacer or DPI for exacerbations of COPD (2016) · Cochrane | OR 1.65 [0.42, 6.48] | 3 studies · 110 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Mortality · children with acute asthma Non‐invasive positive pressure ventilation for acute asthma in children (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 16 participants | Very low |
Intervention NR Serious adverse events · children with acute asthma Non‐invasive positive pressure ventilation for acute asthma in children (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 35 participants | Very low |
Intervention NR Asthma symptom score at the acute phase · children with acute asthma Non‐invasive positive pressure ventilation for acute asthma in children (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 35 participants | Very low |
Intervention NR Pneumonia · children with acute asthma Non‐invasive positive pressure ventilation for acute asthma in children (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 19 participants | Very low |
Intervention NR Exacerbations Number of events · adults and children with purulent bronchiectasis Prolonged antibiotics for non‐cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in children and adults (2015) · Cochrane | OR 0.31 [0.12, 0.52] | 10 studies · 654 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR Hospitalisations Number of events · adults and children with purulent bronchiectasis Prolonged antibiotics for non‐cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in children and adults (2015) · Cochrane | OR 0.4 [0.14, 1.11] | 7 studies · 643 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR Emergence of resistance Number of events · adults and children with purulent bronchiectasis Prolonged antibiotics for non‐cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in children and adults (2015) · Cochrane | OR 3.48 [1.2, 10.07] | 6 studies · 431 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR St George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) total Mean and standard deviation. Scale from 0 to 100 · adults and children with purulent bronchiectasis Prolonged antibiotics for non‐cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in children and adults (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 5 studies · 315 participants | Low |
Rehabilitation vs usual care QoL ‐ Change in CRQ (dyspnoea) CRQ Questionnaire. Scale from 1 to 7 (Higher is better and 0.5 unit is an important difference) · patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Pulmonary rehabilitation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 19 studies · 1283 participants | Moderate |
Rehabilitation vs usual care QoL ‐ Change in SGRQ (total) Scale from 0 to 100 (Lower is better and 4 units is an important difference) · patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Pulmonary rehabilitation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 19 studies · 1146 participants | Moderate |
Rehabilitation vs usual care Change in maximal exercise (Incremental Shuttle walk test (ISWT)) Distance metres · patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Pulmonary rehabilitation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 8 studies · 694 participants | Moderate |
Rehabilitation vs usual care Change in functional exercise capacity (6MWT)) Distance metres · patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Pulmonary rehabilitation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 38 studies · 1879 participants | Very low |
Rehabilitation vs usual care Change in maximal exercise capacity (cycle ergometer) Workmax (watt) · patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Pulmonary rehabilitation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 16 studies · 779 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Number of participants with exacerbations requiring systemic steroids · children with chronic asthma Addition of long‐acting beta₂‐agonists to inhaled corticosteroids for chronic asthma in children (2015) · Cochrane | RR 0.95 [0.7, 1.28] | 12 studies · 1669 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR Serious adverse events · children with chronic asthma Addition of long‐acting beta₂‐agonists to inhaled corticosteroids for chronic asthma in children (2015) · Cochrane | RR 1.54 [0.81, 2.94] | 7 studies · 1343 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR Total number of withdrawals · children with chronic asthma Addition of long‐acting beta₂‐agonists to inhaled corticosteroids for chronic asthma in children (2015) · Cochrane | RR 0.96 [0.67, 1.37] | 7 studies · 1491 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR Change in FEV1 (L) at endpoint · children with chronic asthma Addition of long‐acting beta₂‐agonists to inhaled corticosteroids for chronic asthma in children (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 526 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR Change in morning PEF (L/min) at endpoint · children with chronic asthma Addition of long‐acting beta₂‐agonists to inhaled corticosteroids for chronic asthma in children (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 5 studies · 1283 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR Total number of adverse events · children with chronic asthma Addition of long‐acting beta₂‐agonists to inhaled corticosteroids for chronic asthma in children (2015) · Cochrane | RR 1.01 [0.92, 1.1] | 6 studies · 1254 participants | High |
Intervention NR Number of participants with exacerbations requiring hospitalisation · children with chronic asthma Addition of long‐acting beta₂‐agonists to inhaled corticosteroids for chronic asthma in children (2015) · Cochrane | RR 1.74 [0.9, 3.36] | 6 studies · 1292 participants | Moderate |