Long-acting inhaled therapy (beta-agonists, anticholinergics and steroids) for COPD: A network meta-analysis

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: To assess the efficacy and safety of treatment options for patients whose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cannot be controlled by short-acting therapies alone. The review will not look at combination therapies usually considered later in the course of the disease. As part of this overview, we will address the following issues: How does the long-term efficacy compare between different pharmacological treatments for COPD? How does combining different pharmacological treatments affect the long-term efficacy? Are there limitations in the current evidence base which may compromise the conclusions drawn by this overview? If so, what are the implications for future research?