C J Cates

Dr C J Cates, St George’s, University of London, London, UK; ccates@sgul.ac.uk

QUESTION

In patients with chronic asthma, does daily salmeterol increase serious adverse events (SAEs) and mortality more than placebo or short-acting β-agonists?

REVIEW SCOPE

Included studies compared salmeterol alone, given twice daily for ⩾12 weeks using an inhaler, with placebo or short-acting β-agonists in patients with chronic asthma. Outcomes included all-cause mortality, non-fatal SAEs, and asthma mortality.

REVIEW METHODS

Cochrane Airways Group Specialised Register (Oct 2007), websites of clinical trial registers and drug manufacturers, US Food and Drug Administration submissions, and reference lists were searched for published and unpublished data from randomised controlled trials …