What do systematic reviews say?

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
  2 studies · 75 participants
  Low

Inhaled corticosteroids vs placebo

ICS may leads to lower hospital admission compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Early use of inhaled corticosteroids in the emergency department treatment of acute asthma 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.44 [0.31, 0.61]
  12 studies · 959 participants
  Low

Inhaled corticosteroids vs placebo

ICS showed no clear difference in FEV1 at 1 hour compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Early use of inhaled corticosteroids in the emergency department treatment of acute asthma 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  MD 0.28
  4 studies · 248 participants
  Low

Inhaled corticosteroids vs placebo

ICS showed no clear difference in FEV1 at 3 to 4 hours compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Early use of inhaled corticosteroids in the emergency department treatment of acute asthma 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  MD 0.15
  4 studies · 319 participants
  Moderate

Inhaled corticosteroids vs placebo

ICS showed no clear difference in adverse effects ‐ nausea/vomiting compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Early use of inhaled corticosteroids in the emergency department treatment of acute asthma 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.32 [0.03, 3.18]
  1 study · 94 participants
  Low

Inhaled corticosteroids vs systemic corticosteroids

ICS showed no clear difference in hospital admission compared with systemic corticosteroids (low certainty).

• Early use of inhaled corticosteroids in the emergency department treatment of acute asthma 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.56 [0.25, 1.24]
  10 studies · 763 participants
  Low