Cochrane · systematic review · CD006897

Different durations of corticosteroid therapy for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Walters, JAE, Tan, DJ, White, CJ, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2018 · Cochrane Library

Airways2 versionsAMSTAR 2: not assessed
SoF tableOnly the outcomes this review put in its Summary of Findings table are listed (the Cochrane Handbook caps them at about seven per comparison). Its other analyses are not shown here.
Questions
8
current version
GRADE rated
8
No studies
0
Included studies
NR
No studies 0 · 0%Ungraded 0 · 0%Very low 1 · 12.5%Low 1 · 12.5%Moderate 6 · 75%High 0 · 0%

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.

Questions and results

Current version only

SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days compared with SCS treatment for longer than 7 days for acute exacerbations of COPD

Population: patients with acute exacerbations of COPD
CD006897.PUB4 (current) · 8 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Treatment failure Need for additional treatment
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment
OR 0.72 [0.36, 1.46]4 studies · 457 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Relapse New acute exacerbation or COPD‐related admission
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment
OR 1.04 [0.7, 1.56]4 studies · 478 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Adverse drug effect—hyperglycaemia
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment
OR 0.99 [0.64, 1.53]2 studies · 345 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Adverse drug effects Gastrointestinal tract bleeding, symptomatic gastrointestinal reflux, symptoms of congestive heart failure or ischaemic heart disease, sleep disturbance, fractures, depression
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment
OR 0.88 [0.46, 1.7]5 studies · 503 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Mortality
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment
OR 0.91 [0.4, 2.06]2 studies · 336 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Length of hospitalisation (days)
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment
no estimate extracted3 studies · 421 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Lung function (end of treatment) FEV1 (L)
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment
no estimate extracted4 studies · 187 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency
Health‐related quality of life (QOL) Overall score (includes activity limitations, symptoms, fatigue, emotional functioning); scale 0 best to 6 worst; minimum important difference 0.5
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment
no estimate extracted1 study · 271 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision

SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days compared with SCS treatment for longer than 7 days for acute exacerbations of COPD

Population: patients with acute exacerbations of COPD
CD006897.PUB3 · 8 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Treatment failure Need for additional treatment
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment
OR 0.72 [0.36, 1.46]4 studies · 457 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Relapse New acute exacerbation or COPD‐related admission
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment
OR 1.04 [0.7, 1.56]4 studies · 478 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Adverse drug effect—hyperglycaemia
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment
OR 0.99 [0.64, 1.53]2 studies · 345 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Adverse drug effects Gastrointestinal tract bleeding, symptomatic gastrointestinal reflux, symptoms of congestive heart failure or ischaemic heart disease, sleep disturbance, fractures, depression
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment
OR 0.88 [0.46, 1.7]5 studies · 503 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Mortality
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment
OR 0.91 [0.4, 2.06]2 studies · 336 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Length of hospitalisation (days)
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment
no estimate extracted3 studies · 421 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Lung function (end of treatment) FEV1 (L)
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment
no estimate extracted4 studies · 187 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency
Health‐related quality of life (QOL) Overall score (includes activity limitations, symptoms, fatigue, emotional functioning); scale 0 best to 6 worst; minimum important difference 0.5
SCS treatment for 7 or fewer days vs SCS treatment
no estimate extracted1 study · 271 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision