What do systematic reviews say?

Intermittent ICS vs placebo

• Intermittent inhaled corticosteroid therapy versus placebo for persistent asthma in children and adults 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 364 participants
  Moderate

Intermittent ICS vs placebo

• Intermittent inhaled corticosteroid therapy versus placebo for persistent asthma in children and adults 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 240 participants
  Moderate

Treatment route: intravenous corticosteroid vs oral corticosteroid

• Systemic corticosteroids for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 298 participants
  Low

Erdosteine vs no treatment

Erdosteine may leads to higher lung function change in FEV1 (L) at day 15 compared with no treatment (low certainty).

• Mucolytics for bronchiectasis 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  MD 200 [40, 360]
  1 study · 30 participants
  Low

LABA/ICS vs LTRA + ICS

• Addition to inhaled corticosteroids of long‐acting beta₂‐agonists versus anti‐leukotrienes for chronic asthma 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  5 studies · 2612 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

The intervention may leads to higher cough‐free days Percentage of days free of cough (low certainty).

• Combination inhaled corticosteroids and long‐acting beta₂‐agonists for children and adults with bronchiectasis 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  MD 12.3 [2.38, 22.22]
  1 study · 40 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

Inspiratory muscle training vs control

• Inspiratory muscle training for asthma 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 22 participants
  Very low

Intermittent 'as needed' ICS vs daily ICS

Intermittent 'as needed' ICS showed no clear difference in proportion of asthma control days over the period (duration 44 to 52… compared with daily ICS (moderate certainty).

• Intermittent versus daily inhaled corticosteroids for persistent asthma in children and adults 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 330 participants
  Moderate

Intermittent 'as needed' ICS vs daily ICS

Intermittent 'as needed' ICS showed no clear difference in change from baseline mean daily use of β2‐agonists (puffs/day)… compared with daily ICS (moderate certainty).

• Intermittent versus daily inhaled corticosteroids for persistent asthma in children and adults 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  MD 0.12 [0, 0.23]
  3 studies · 442 participants
  Moderate

Any ICS plus oral corticosteroid vs oral corticosteroid

Any ICS plus oral corticosteroid showed no clear difference in asthma relapse1at 20 to 24 days compared with oral corticosteroid (high certainty).

• Inhaled steroids for acute asthma following emergency department discharge 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.68 [0.46, 1.02]
  3 studies · 909 participants
  High

Any ICS plus oral corticosteroid vs oral corticosteroid

Any ICS plus oral corticosteroid showed no clear difference in hoarseness at 20 to 24 days compared with oral corticosteroid (moderate certainty).

• Inhaled steroids for acute asthma following emergency department discharge 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.6 [0.36, 1.01]
  2 studies · 596 participants
  Moderate

Any ICS vs oral corticosteroid

Any ICS showed no clear difference in asthma relapse1at 16 to 21 days compared with oral corticosteroid (moderate certainty).

• Inhaled steroids for acute asthma following emergency department discharge 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.26 [0.8, 1.99]
  2 studies · 425 participants
  Moderate

Any ICS vs oral corticosteroid

Any ICS showed no clear difference in hoarseness at 16 to 21 days compared with oral corticosteroid (low certainty).

• Inhaled steroids for acute asthma following emergency department discharge 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.62 [0.52, 5.05]
  1 study · 412 participants
  Low

Asthma Clinics (Intervention) vs controls

• Primary care based clinics for asthma 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 263 participants
  GRADE not reported

Human deoxyribonuclease vs placebo

Human deoxyribonuclease showed no clear difference in clinical failure Number of children with no significant improvement… compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Interventions for primary (intrinsic) tracheomalacia in children 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.38 [0.37, 5.14]
  1 study · 38 participants
  Low

Human deoxyribonuclease vs placebo

• Interventions for primary (intrinsic) tracheomalacia in children 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 38 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

• Airway clearance techniques for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 54 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

• Airway clearance techniques for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 171 participants
  Low