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Q In people with stable chronic asthma, are inhaled long acting β2 agonists (LABAs) effective and safe?
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ Internal medicine ★★★★★★☆ Allergy ★★★★☆☆☆ Respirology ★★★★★☆☆
METHODS
Data sources:
Cochrane Airways Review Group’s randomised controlled trial (RCT) register (includes studies from searches of Medline, EMBASE/Excerpta Medica, and CINAHL); hand searches of 20 high yield respiratory care journals; reference lists; and contact with researchers.
Study selection and assessment:
RCTs that compared inhaled LABAs (salmeterol or formoterol), given twice daily, with placebo in adults or children who have had asthma for ⩾3 months. Studies that included people with other pulmonary diseases (particularly smoking related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) were excluded.
Outcomes:
daytime and night-time asthma symptom scores, daily peak flow measurement, bronchodilator use …
Footnotes
For correspondence: Professor E Walters University of Tasmania Medical School, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. haydn.waltersutas.edu.au
Source of funding: Commonwealth Department of Health and Aging, Australia.
Footnotes
Reproduced with permission from OpenUrlFREE Full Text