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.
1,080 questions in 109 reviews · Acute Respiratory Infections
current versionsNo studies 132 · 12.2%Ungraded 90 · 8.3%Very low 169 · 15.6%Low 306 · 28.3%Moderate 287 · 26.6%High 96 · 8.9%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Intention‐to‐treat analysis: probiotics vs placebo or no treatment Number of participants who were diagnosed with acute URTIs: at least 1 event · children, adults, and the elderly Probiotics for preventing acute upper respiratory tract infections (2022) · Cochrane | RR 0.76 [0.67, 0.87] | 16 studies · 4798 participants | Low |
Intention‐to‐treat analysis: probiotics vs placebo or no treatment Number of participants who were diagnosed with acute URTIs: at least 3 events · children, adults, and the elderly Probiotics for preventing acute upper respiratory tract infections (2022) · Cochrane | RR 0.59 [0.38, 0.91] | 4 studies · 763 participants | Moderate |
Intention‐to‐treat analysis: probiotics vs placebo or no treatment Incidence rate of acute URTIs · children, adults, and the elderly Probiotics for preventing acute upper respiratory tract infections (2022) · Cochrane | Rate ratio 0.82 [0.73, 0.92] | 12 studies · 4364 participants | Low |
Intention‐to‐treat analysis: probiotics vs placebo or no treatment Mean duration of an episode of acute URTIs · children, adults, and the elderly Probiotics for preventing acute upper respiratory tract infections (2022) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 6 studies · 2406 participants | Low |
Intention‐to‐treat analysis: probiotics vs placebo or no treatment Number of participants who were absent from childcare centre, school, or work due to acute URTIs · children, adults, and the elderly Probiotics for preventing acute upper respiratory tract infections (2022) · Cochrane | RR 0.14 [0.03, 0.59] | 1 study · 80 participants | Very low |
Intention‐to‐treat analysis: probiotics vs placebo or no treatment Number of participants who used prescribed antibiotics for acute URTIs · children, adults, and the elderly Probiotics for preventing acute upper respiratory tract infections (2022) · Cochrane | RR 0.58 [0.42, 0.81] | 6 studies · 1548 participants | Moderate |
Intention‐to‐treat analysis: probiotics vs placebo or no treatment Number of participants who experienced at least 1 side effect or adverse event · children, adults, and the elderly Probiotics for preventing acute upper respiratory tract infections (2022) · Cochrane | RR 1.02 [0.9, 1.15] | 8 studies · 2456 participants | Low |
Point‐of‐care biomarkers (C‐reactive protein) for infection vs standard of care Number of participants given an antibiotic prescription at index consultation  · people with acute respiratory infections Biomarkers as point‐of‐care tests to guide prescription of antibiotics in people with acute respiratory… (2022) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 12 studies · 10218 participants | Moderate |
Point‐of‐care biomarkers (procalcitonin) for infection vs standard of care Mortality within 28 days · people with acute respiratory infections Biomarkers as point‐of‐care tests to guide prescription of antibiotics in people with acute respiratory… (2022) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 277 participants | Ungraded |
Point‐of‐care biomarkers (procalcitonin) for infection vs standard of care Number of participants in need of a hospital admission within 28 days · people with acute respiratory infections Biomarkers as point‐of‐care tests to guide prescription of antibiotics in people with acute respiratory… (2022) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 277 participants | Very low |
Point‐of‐care biomarkers (procalcitonin) for infection vs standard of care Clinical recovery within 28 days · people with acute respiratory infections Biomarkers as point‐of‐care tests to guide prescription of antibiotics in people with acute respiratory… (2022) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Point‐of‐care biomarkers (C‐reactive protein) for infection vs standard of care Number of participants given an antibiotic prescription within 28 days · people with acute respiratory infections Biomarkers as point‐of‐care tests to guide prescription of antibiotics in people with acute respiratory… (2022) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 7 studies · 5091 participants | High |
Point‐of‐care biomarkers (C‐reactive protein) for infection vs standard of care Clinical recovery within 7 days · people with acute respiratory infections Biomarkers as point‐of‐care tests to guide prescription of antibiotics in people with acute respiratory… (2022) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 4 studies · 3104 participants | Moderate |
Point‐of‐care biomarkers (C‐reactive protein) for infection vs standard of care Mortality within 28 days · people with acute respiratory infections Biomarkers as point‐of‐care tests to guide prescription of antibiotics in people with acute respiratory… (2022) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 9 studies · 7737 participants | Low |
Point‐of‐care biomarkers (C‐reactive protein) for infection vs standard of care Number of participants in need of a hospital admission within 28 days · people with acute respiratory infections Biomarkers as point‐of‐care tests to guide prescription of antibiotics in people with acute respiratory… (2022) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 10 studies · 7514 participants | Moderate |
Point‐of‐care biomarkers (C‐reactive protein) for infection vs standard of care Clinical recovery within 28 days · people with acute respiratory infections Biomarkers as point‐of‐care tests to guide prescription of antibiotics in people with acute respiratory… (2022) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 5 studies · 2324 participants | Moderate |
Point‐of‐care biomarkers (procalcitonin) for infection vs standard of care Number of participants given an antibiotic prescription at index consultation  · people with acute respiratory infections Biomarkers as point‐of‐care tests to guide prescription of antibiotics in people with acute respiratory… (2022) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 317 participants | Very low |
Point‐of‐care biomarkers (procalcitonin) for infection vs standard of care Number of participants given an antibiotic prescription within 28 days · people with acute respiratory infections Biomarkers as point‐of‐care tests to guide prescription of antibiotics in people with acute respiratory… (2022) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 277 participants | Very low |
Point‐of‐care biomarkers (procalcitonin) for infection vs standard of care Clinical recovery within 7 days · people with acute respiratory infections Biomarkers as point‐of‐care tests to guide prescription of antibiotics in people with acute respiratory… (2022) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 277 participants | Very low |
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) vs supportive treatment Proportion of children requiring mechanical ventilation · children with acute bronchiolitis Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for acute bronchiolitis in children (2022) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 122 participants | Low |
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) vs supportive treatment Time to recovery(hours) · children with acute bronchiolitis Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for acute bronchiolitis in children (2022) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies · 0 participants | Ungraded |
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) vs supportive treatment Mean change in respiratory rate (breaths/min) · children with acute bronchiolitis Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for acute bronchiolitis in children (2022) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 91 participants | Low |
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) vs supportive treatment Adverse effects · children with acute bronchiolitis Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for acute bronchiolitis in children (2022) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 72 participants | Ungraded |
Topical plus systemic prophylaxis vs placebo or no treatment Overall mortality · adults receiving mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours Topical antibiotic prophylaxis to reduce respiratory tract infections and mortality in adults receiving… (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.84 [0.73, 0.96] | 18 studies · 5290 participants | High |
Topical prophylaxis vs no topical prophylaxis Respiratory tract infections ‐ topical plus systemic prophylaxis versus systemic prophylaxis alone · adults receiving mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours Topical antibiotic prophylaxis to reduce respiratory tract infections and mortality in adults receiving… (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.82 [0.58, 1.16] | 6 studies · 850 participants | Low |
Topical prophylaxis vs no topical prophylaxis Respiratory tract infections ‐ topical prophylaxis versus no treatment or placebo · adults receiving mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours Topical antibiotic prophylaxis to reduce respiratory tract infections and mortality in adults receiving… (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.5 [0.36, 0.69] | 13 studies · 1848 participants | Low |
Topical prophylaxis vs no topical prophylaxis Dropouts due to adverse events · adults receiving mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours Topical antibiotic prophylaxis to reduce respiratory tract infections and mortality in adults receiving… (2021) · Cochrane | RR 2.2 [0.57, 8.54] | 7 studies · 1323 participants | Very low |
Topical prophylaxis vs no topical prophylaxis Gastrointestinal adverse events · adults receiving mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours Topical antibiotic prophylaxis to reduce respiratory tract infections and mortality in adults receiving… (2021) · Cochrane | RR 2.78 [0.26, 29.5] | 3 studies · 1859 participants | Low |
Topical prophylaxis vs no topical prophylaxis Allergic adverse events · adults receiving mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours Topical antibiotic prophylaxis to reduce respiratory tract infections and mortality in adults receiving… (2021) · Cochrane | RR 2.64 [0.34, 20.69] | 5 studies · 2357 participants | Very low |
Topical plus systemic prophylaxis vs placebo or no treatment Respiratory tract infections · adults receiving mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours Topical antibiotic prophylaxis to reduce respiratory tract infections and mortality in adults receiving… (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.43 [0.35, 0.53] | 17 studies · 2951 participants | Moderate |
Topical plus systemic prophylaxis vs placebo or no treatment Dropouts due to adverse events · adults receiving mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours Topical antibiotic prophylaxis to reduce respiratory tract infections and mortality in adults receiving… (2021) · Cochrane | RR 1.06 [0.3, 3.76] | 4 studies · 1287 participants | Low |
Topical plus systemic prophylaxis vs placebo or no treatment Gastrointestinal adverse events · adults receiving mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours Topical antibiotic prophylaxis to reduce respiratory tract infections and mortality in adults receiving… (2021) · Cochrane | RR 1.08 [0.57, 2.04] | 6 studies · 2637 participants | Low |
Topical plus systemic prophylaxis vs placebo or no treatment Allergic adverse events · adults receiving mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours Topical antibiotic prophylaxis to reduce respiratory tract infections and mortality in adults receiving… (2021) · Cochrane | RR 1.49 [0.09, 25.33] | 6 studies · 2981 participants | Low |
Topical prophylaxis vs no topical prophylaxis Overall mortality · adults receiving mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours Topical antibiotic prophylaxis to reduce respiratory tract infections and mortality in adults receiving… (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.96 [0.87, 1.05] | 22 studies · 4213 participants | Moderate |
Topical prophylaxis vs no topical prophylaxis Overall mortality ‐ topical plus systemic prophylaxis versus systemic prophylaxis alone · adults receiving mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours Topical antibiotic prophylaxis to reduce respiratory tract infections and mortality in adults receiving… (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.92 [0.72, 1.18] | 7 studies · 939 participants | Low |
Topical prophylaxis vs no topical prophylaxis Overall mortality ‐ topical prophylaxis versus placebo or no treatment · adults receiving mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours Topical antibiotic prophylaxis to reduce respiratory tract infections and mortality in adults receiving… (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.97 [0.87, 1.07] | 15 studies · 3274 participants | Moderate |
Topical prophylaxis vs no topical prophylaxis Respiratory tract infections · adults receiving mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours Topical antibiotic prophylaxis to reduce respiratory tract infections and mortality in adults receiving… (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.57 [0.44, 0.74] | 19 studies · 2698 participants | Low |
Antibiotics vs control Sore throat: day 3 · adults and children presenting with sore throat Antibiotics for treatment of sore throat in children and adults (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.7 [0.6, 0.8] | 16 studies · 3730 participants | Moderate |
Antibiotics vs control Sore throat: 1 week · adults and children presenting with sore throat Antibiotics for treatment of sore throat in children and adults (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.5 [0.34, 0.75] | 14 studies · 3083 participants | Moderate |
Antibiotics vs control Fever: day 3 · adults and children presenting with sore throat Antibiotics for treatment of sore throat in children and adults (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.75 [0.53, 1.07] | 8 studies · 1443 participants | High |
Antibiotics vs control Headache: day 3 · adults and children presenting with sore throat Antibiotics for treatment of sore throat in children and adults (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.49 [0.34, 0.7] | 4 studies · 1020 participants | High |
Antibiotics vs control Rheumatic fever (within 2 months, clinical diagnosis) · adults and children presenting with sore throat Antibiotics for treatment of sore throat in children and adults (2021) · Cochrane | Peto OR 0.32 [0.18, 0.58] | 17 studies · 12132 participants | Moderate |
Antibiotics vs control Glomerulonephritis (within 1 month, clinical diagnosis) · adults and children presenting with sore throat Antibiotics for treatment of sore throat in children and adults (2021) · Cochrane | Peto OR 0.07 [0, 1.32] | 10 studies · 5147 participants | Low |
Antibiotics vs control Quinsy (within 2 months, clinical diagnosis) · adults and children presenting with sore throat Antibiotics for treatment of sore throat in children and adults (2021) · Cochrane | Peto OR 0.16 [0.07, 0.35] | 7 studies · 2367 participants | High |
Antibiotics vs control Otitis media (within 14 days, clinical diagnosis) · adults and children presenting with sore throat Antibiotics for treatment of sore throat in children and adults (2021) · Cochrane | Peto OR 0.21 [0.11, 0.4] | 10 studies · 3646 participants | High |
Intervention NR Cohort studies ‐ 1 dose · children 9 months to 15 years old Vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella in children (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.05 [0.02, 0.13] | 7 studies · 12039 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR Cohort studies ‐ Jeryl Lynn strain ‐ household contacts · children 9 months to 15 years old Vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella in children (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.26 [0.13, 0.49] | 3 studies · 1036 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR Self‐controlled case series ‐ encephalitis meningitis ‐ encephalitis meningitis risk period (0 to 90 days) · children 9 months to 15 years old Vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella in children (2021) · Cochrane | Rate ratio 0.84 [0.2, 3.51] | 1 study · 2025 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Self‐controlled case series ‐ herpes ‐ herpes risk period (0 to 90 days) · children 9 months to 15 years old Vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella in children (2021) · Cochrane | Rate ratio 1.17 [0.56, 2.46] | 1 study · 2025 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Self‐controlled case series ‐ pneumonia ‐ pneumonia risk period (0 to 90 days) · children 9 months to 15 years old Vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella in children (2021) · Cochrane | Rate ratio 0.72 [0.32, 1.6] | 1 study · 2025 participants | Low |