Comparison 1. Inhaled anticholinergics versus placebo (cross‐over studies).

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Peak expiratory flow rate (am)	3	122	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.05 [‐0.31, 0.40]
1.1 Ipratropium bromide	2	98	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.05 [‐0.35, 0.44]
1.2 Atropine	1	24	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.04 [‐0.76, 0.84]
2 Peak expiratory flow rate (pm)	3	122	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.02 [‐0.33, 0.38]
2.1 Ipratropium bromide	2	98	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.05 [‐0.34, 0.45]
2.2 Atropine	1	24	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.10 [‐0.90, 0.70]
3 Number of participants with significant diurnal variation	1		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
3.1 Ipratropium bromide	1		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
3.2 Atropine	0		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
4 Amplitude of diurnal variation in PEFRs	1		% (Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
4.1 Ipratropium bromide	1		% (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
4.2 Atropine	0		% (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
5 Symptom score	1		Symptoms (Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
5.1 Ipratropium bromide	1		Symptoms (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
5.2 Atropine	0		Symptoms (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
6 FEV1 (% predicted)	1		% (Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
6.1 Ipratropium bromide	0		% (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
6.2 Atropine	1		% (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
7 FEV1/VC (predicted)	1		% (Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
7.1 Ipratropium bromide	0		% (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
7.2 Atropine	1		% (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
8 FEF 25‐75% (predicted)	1		% (Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
8.1 Ipratropium bromide	0		% (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
8.2 Atropine	1		% (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
9 RV (predicted)	1		% (Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
9.1 Ipratropium bromide	0		% (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
9.2 Atropine	1		% (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
10 RV/TLC (predicted)	1		% (Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
10.1 Ipratropium bromide	0		% (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
10.2 Atropine	1		% (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
11 Hospital admissions	2	64	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.14 [0.02, 1.25]
11.1 Ipratropium bromide	1	40	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.12 [0.01, 2.53]
11.2 Atropine	1	24	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.17 [0.01, 3.90]
12 Need for oral steroids	2	64	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.79 [0.21, 3.03]
12.1 Ipratropium bromide	1	40	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.30 [0.03, 3.15]
12.2 Atropine	1	24	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.5 [0.25, 8.84]
13 Additional doses of beta‐2 agonists	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
13.1 Ipratropium bromide	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
13.2 Atropine	0		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
14 Use of additional medication (physician directed)	1		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
14.1 Ipratropium bromide	1		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
14.2 Atropine	0		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]