Comparison 1. Ipratropium bromide versus short acting beta‐2 agonist via nebuliser or MDI.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Test day 85 mean baseline FEV1 (absolute, litres)	8	2148	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.03 [‐0.00, 0.06]
2 Test day 85 mean peak FEV1 response (change from day 85 baseline, litres)	6	1917	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.00 [‐0.02, 0.01]
3 Test day 85 mean FEV1 AUC (absolute, litres)	7	2104	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.10 [‐0.02, 0.22]
4 Test day 85 mean baseline FVC (absolute, litres)	8	2148	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.07 [0.01, 0.14]
5 Test day peak FVC	6	1907	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.01 [‐0.06, 0.03]
6 Test day FVC AUC	7	2104	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.28 [0.01, 0.55]
7 Symptom scores	5		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
7.1 wheezing	5	1533	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.04 [‐0.13, 0.04]
7.2 coughing	5	1533	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.08 [‐0.13, ‐0.03]
7.3 shortness of breath	5	1533	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.00 [‐0.09, 0.09]
7.4 tightness of chest	5	1533	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.01 [‐0.06, 0.09]
8 Number of subjects with medication related adverse events	6	1858	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.71 [0.53, 0.97]
9 HRQL‐ Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire: absolute scores	5		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
9.1 CRQ‐ DYSPNOEA DOMAIN	5	1529	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.16 [0.09, 0.23]
9.2 CRQ‐ FATIGUE DOMAIN	5	1529	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.13 [0.02, 0.23]
9.3 CRQ‐ EMOTION DOMAIN	5	1529	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.17 [0.05, 0.29]
9.4 CRQ‐ MASTERY DOMAIN	5	1529	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.18 [0.06, 0.30]
10 Number of subjects adding or increasing systemic (oral) corticosteroids	4	1218	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.52 [0.37, 0.74]
11 Borg Dyspnoea Index	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
12 Borg dyspnoea score‐ reduction of 1 unit	1		Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
12.1 Borg score reduced 1 unit	1	35	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.71 [0.73, 10.07]
12.2 Borg score reduced one unit after 6MWD test	1	35	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.21 [0.60, 8.20]
13 Six minute walk distance	2	423	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	62.60 [‐15.65, 140.85]
14 Six minute walk distance test‐improved at least 30 metres	1		Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected