Table 1.

Summary of random-control studies evaluating the clinical effectiveness of macrolide therapy in COPD.

Literature source	Total patients	Treated patients	Placebo	Therapy strategy patients	Concomitant medication treatment of COPD	Course of therapy
[Seemungal et al. 2008]	109	53	56	Erythromycin 250 mg/ twice daily compared with placebo	Inhaled steroids	12 months
[He et al. 2010]	36	18	18	Erythromycin 125 mg /three times a day compared with placebo	Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs), anti-cholinergic agents and β-adrenergic agents	6 months
Albert et al. 2011	1142	570	572	Azithromycin 250 mg/ once daily compared with placebo	ICSs, anti-cholinergic agents and β-adrenergic agents	12 months
Sevim Uzun et al. 2014	92	47	45	Azithromycin 500 mg/ three times a week compared with placebo	Not mentioned	12 months
Simpson et al. 2014	30	15	15	Azithromycin 250 mg/ once daily compared with placebo	ICSs, anticholinergic agents and β-adrenergic agents	12 weeks

COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; ICS, inhaled corticosteroid.