Study design (if review, criteria of inclusion for studies)
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasiâRCTs
Participants
Children and adults with CF
Interventions
Shortâacting inhaled bronchodilators (Terbutaline, Inhaled Bronchodilator Therapy, Fenoterol, Salbutamol, Ipratropium Bromide). For this review 'inhaled' includes the use of pressurised metered dose inhalers (MDIs), with or without a spacer, dry powder devices and nebulisers.
Outcome measures
Clinical outcomes and safety. CF Pulmonary Exacerbation, Quality of Life, FEV1, CF Quality of Life, CF Questionnaire-Revised
Main results
11 trials from the systematic search, with 191 participants meeting inclusion criteria; three of these trials had three treatment arms. Eight trials compared shortâacting inhaled betaâ2 agonists to placebo and four trials compared shortâacting inhaled muscarinic antagonists to placebo. Three trials compared shortâacting inhaled betaâ2 agonists to shortâacting inhaled muscarinic antagonists. All were crossâover trials with only small numbers of participants. Shortâacting inhaled betaâ2 agonists versus placebo. All eight trials (six singleâdose trials and two longerâterm trials) reporting on this comparison reported on forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), either as per cent predicted (% predicted) or L. Authors were able to combine the data from two trials in a metaâanalysis which showed a greater per cent change from baseline in FEV1 L after betaâ2 agonists compared to placebo (mean difference (MD) 6.95%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.88 to 12.02; 2 trials, 82 participants). Only one of the longerâterm trials reported on exacerbations, as measured by hospitalisations and courses of antibiotics. Only the second longerâterm trial presented results for participantâreported outcomes. Three trials narratively reported adverse events, and these were all mild. Three singleâdose trials and the two longer trials reported on forced vital capacity (FVC), and five trials reported on peak expiratory flow, i.e. forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% (FEF25-75). One trial reported on airway clearance in terms of sputum weight. We judged the certainty of evidence for each of these outcomes to be very low, meaning we are very uncertain about the effect of shortâacting inhaled betaâ2 agonists on any of the outcomes assessed. Shortâacting inhaled muscarinic antagonists versus placebo: All four trials reporting on this comparison looked at the effects of ipratropium bromide, but in different doses and via different delivery methods. One trial reported FEV1 % predicted; three trials measured this in L. Two trials reported adverse events, but these were few and mild. One trial reported FVC and three trials reported FEF25-75. None of the trials reported on quality of life, exacerbations or airway clearance. The certainty of evidence for each of these outcomes was very low, meaning we are very uncertain about the effect of shortâacting inhaled muscarinic antagonists on any of the outcomes we assessed. Shortâacting inhaled betaâ2 agonists versus shortâacting inhaled muscarinic antagonists. None of the three singleâdose trials reporting on this comparison provided data we could analyse. The original papers from three trials report that both treatments lead to an improvement in FEV1 L. Only one trial reported on adverse events; but none were experienced by any participant. No trial reported on any of our other outcomes. The certainty of evidencewas very low, meaning we are very uncertain about the effect of shortâacting inhaled betaâ2 agonists compared to shortâacting inhaled muscarinic antagonists on any of the outcomes we assessed.
Authors' conclusions
All included trials in this review are small and of a crossâover design. Most trials looked at very shortâterm effects of inhaled bronchodilators, and therefore did not measure longerâterm outcomes. The certainty of evidence across all outcomes was very low, and therefore we have been unable to describe any effects with certainty.