Skip to main content
. 2004 Jul 19;2004(3):CD003269. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003269.pub2

3. Anticholinergic versus placebo ‐ daily peak flows.

Outcome Time (post dose) Studies Pooled summary stats Heterogeneity Single study results Stat sig? % on placebo mean Comments
Daily PEFR am pre‐bronchodilator 07.00 (6h)
 08.00 (10h)
 "on rising" 
 (12h) Ahonen 1978
 Salorinne 1988
 Wheeler 1987 Paired mean difference
 14.38 L/min 
 (95%CI 7.69, 21.08) p = 0.22 
 I‐squared = 34%   Y 7% increase 
 (i.e. favours Antichol) Wheeler: 
 rho = 0.919
Daily PEFR am pre‐bronchodilator (no Salorinne) 07.00 (6h) "on rising" (12h) Ahonen 1978 Wheeler 1987 Paired mean difference
 16.26 l/min 
 (95%CI 9.21, 23.31) p = 0.65
 I‐squared = 0%   Y 5% increase  
Daily PEFR pm
 pre‐bronchodilator 22.00 (3h)
 22.00 (4h)
 "on retiring" (12h) Ahonen 1978
 Salorinne 1988
 Wheeler 1987 Paired mean difference
 23.48 l/min 
 (95%CI 12.32, 34.65) p = 0.01
 I‐squared = 78%   Y 7% increase Wheeler: 
 rho = 0.911
Daily PEFR am 
 post‐bronchodilator 10.00 (3h)
 10.00 (2h) Ahonen 1978
 Salorinne 1988 Paired mean difference
 34.91 l/min 
 (95%CI 20.13, 49.70) p = 0.06
 I‐squared = 71%   Y 9% increase  
Daily PEFR pm
 post‐bronchodilator 00.00 (2h) Salorinne 1988     Paired mean diff.
 23.94 L/min 
 (95%CI 5.20, 42.68) Y 7% increase