Table 1.
Characteristics of trials included in review. Age in years unless stated otherwise
| Trial | No of patients (age) | Baseline severity* | β2 agonist protocol
|
Anticholinergic protocol
|
Systemic steroids | Admission rate (%)† |
Reported outcomes
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drug | Frequency | Drug | Frequency | Admission | PFT | ||||||
| Single dose protocol | |||||||||||
| Ducharme et al (unpublished) | 298 (3-17) | Mild-moderate | S | Every 30 minutes × 2-6 | IB | × 1 | ± | 20 | + | + | |
| Schuh et al19 | 80 (5-17) | <50% FEV1 | S | Every 20 minutes × 3 | IB | × 1 | − | 46 | + | + | |
| Beck et al32 | 25 (6-17) | <50% FEV1 | S | Every 20 minutes × 7 | IB | × 1 | NR | NR | − | + | |
| Phanichyakam et al33 | 20 (4-15) | NR | T | × 1 | IB | × 1 | NR | NR | − | + | |
| Cook et al15 | 30 (18 months-12) | Moderately severe | F | × 1 | IB | × 1 | − | NR | − | − | |
| Multiple dose (strict) protocol | |||||||||||
| Qureshi et al20 | 90 (6-18) | <50% FEV1 | S | Every 30 minutes × 3 | IB | Every 60 minutes × 2 | + | 31 | + | + | |
| Reisman et al16 | 24 (5-15) | ⩽55% FEV1 | S | Every 20 minutes × 7 | IB | Every 40 minutes × 3 | − | 23 | + | − | |
| Schuh et al19 | 81 (5-17) | <50% FEV1 | S | Every 20 minutes × 3 | IB | Every 20 minutes × 3 | − | 46 | + | + | |
| Watson et al17 | 31 (6-17) | 30-70% FEV1 | F | Every 60 minutes × 2 | IB | Every 60 minutes × 2 | − | NR | + | + | |
| Peterson et al (unpublished) | 163 (5-12) | <70% FEV1 | S | Every 15 minutes × 2-3 | IB | Every 45 minutes × 2-3 | ± | 30 | + | + | |
| Multiple dose (flexible) protocol | |||||||||||
| Guill et al14 | 31 (13 months-12) | NR | M | Every 20-30 minutes × 1-3 | AS | Every 20-30 minutes × 1-3 | − | NR | − | − | |
PFT=pulmonary function test; S=salbutamol; T=terbutaline; F=fenoterol; M=metaproterenol; IB=ipratropium bromide; AS=atropine sulphate, NR=not reported; ±=variable; +=yes; −=no.
*
FEV1 is percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second.
†
In control group.