Comparative effectiveness of long term drug treatment strategies to prevent asthma exacerbations: network meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine the comparative effectiveness and safety of current maintenance strategies in preventing exacerbations of asthma.

Design

Systematic review and network meta-analysis using Bayesian statistics.

Data sources

Cochrane systematic reviews on chronic asthma, complemented by an updated search when appropriate. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA TRIALS OF Adults with asthma randomised to maintenance treatments of at least 24 weeks duration and that reported on asthma exacerbations in full text. Low dose inhaled corticosteroid treatment was the comparator strategy. The primary effectiveness outcome was the rate of severe exacerbations. The secondary outcome was the composite of moderate or severe exacerbations. The rate of withdrawal was analysed as a safety outcome.

SUBMITTER: Loymans RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4019015 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature