Summary of findings
| Pseudoephedrine vs control | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patient or population: male and female patient athletes with no comorbidities between 18 and 65 Settings: track or gym Intervention: PSE effects on exercise Comparison: placebo effects on exercise | |||||
| Outcomes | Intervention | Number of participants (studies) | Quality of the evidence (GRADE) | ||
| Placebo | PSE, 60–180 mg, 1–2 mg/kg | PSE, >180 mg or 2.5 mg/kg | |||
| Time to completion (timed trial) | No statistically significant improvement in all studies16 18 19 24–27 | No statistically significant improvement in all studies18 19 26 27 | Significantly decreased time to completion by 5.1%25 and 2.1%24 | 64 (7)1618 19 24–27 | ⊕⊕⊕○ moderate Limitations 0 Imprecision 0 Inconsistency 0 Indirectness −1* Other 0 |
| Wingate test Peak anaerobic power | No statistically significant improvement in both studies20 22 | No statistically significant improvement on study22 | 1.6% improvement (p=0.07)20 | 41 (2)20 22 | ⊕⊕○○ low Limitations 0 Imprecision −1† Inconsistency 0 Indirectness −1* Other 0 |
| Peak power of maximal cycling | No statistically significant improvement in both studies20 23 | No statistically significant improvement on study23 | Improved peak power (p<0.01))20 | 33 (2)20 23 | ⊕⊕○○ low Limitations 0 Imprecision −1† Inconsistency 0 Indirectness −1* Other 0 |
| Respiratory function | No statistically significant improvement in all studies18–21 23 | No statistically significant improvement in all studies18 19 21 23 | Significantly improved respiratory function (p=0.02, p=0.01 for FEV1 and FVC)20 | 61 (5)18–21 23 | ⊕⊕⊕○ moderate Limitations 0 Imprecision 0 Inconsistency 0 Indirectness −1* Other 0 |
| Isometric muscle test | No statistically significant improvement in both studies18 20 | No statistically significant improvement in study18 | Significantly improved isometric knee extension (p<0.03)20 | 32 (2)18 20 | ⊕⊕○○ low Limitations 0 Imprecision −1† Inconsistency 0 Indirectness −1* Other 0 |
GRADE Working Group grades of evidence.
High quality: further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect.
Moderate quality: further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate.
Low quality: further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate.
Very low quality: we are very uncertain about the estimate.
New findings
▸ Doses of PSE >180 mg or 2.5 mg/kg shows significant improvement in various athletic performance tests compared with control or doses 60–180 mg, 1–2 mg/kg.
▸ Both placebo and doses of PSE <180 mg or 2.5 mg/kg had no significant improvement in athletic performance.
▸ Improvement in athletic performance included: decreased time to completion in timed trials, increased peak anaerobic power, increased FEV1 and FVC (lung function).
*No direct comparison of therapeutic doses in interventions.
†Small study group.
FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FVC, forced vital capacity; PSE, pseudoephedrine.