Select demographic characteristics of studies included in the review
| Age (mean) | Female (%) | COPD status | Discharge medication | Race (largest proportion) | Current smoking (%) | Insurance (public/private) | Hospitalisation | Previous intubation (%) | ICS usage (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rowe33 (2007) | 30±10 | 59 | NA | Prednisone, β-agonist, ICS ± LABA | NA | 39 | NA | 68% ever | 7 | 47 |
| McCarren24 | 35±10 | 40 | Excluded | 9–11 days of prednisone, theophylline, steroid inhaler | 87% black | 37 | NA | 46% in past year | NA | NA |
| Emerman26 | 34±10 | 69 | Excluded | 5–7 days of prednisone + EP discretion | 49% black | 30 | 74% | 26% in past year | 13 | 41 |
| Singh28 | 36±10 | 64 | 3% | 67% received steroids | 54% black | 35 | 70% | 62% ever | 17 | 43 |
| Rowe22 (2008) | 29±10 | 64 | Excluded | 5–7 days of prednisone + EP discretion | 87% white | 39 | 72% | 20% in past 2 years | 8 | 52 |
| Rowe23 (2015) | 30 (24–39)* | 58 | Excluded | 5–7 days of prednisone + EP discretion | 85% white | 33 | 50% (medication coverage) | 24% in past 2 years | 7 | 68 |
| Lin29 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Prabhakaran30 | 36±16 | 48 | Excluded | ± prednisolone (79%), ICS | 37% Chinese | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Baibergenova31 | NA | 62 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Withy32 | NA | 54 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 100% | NA | NA | NA |
*Median (IQR).
COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; EP, emergency physician; ICS, inhaled corticosteroids; LABA, long-acting β-agonists; NA, not available.