Table 4
| Author, date and country | Patient group | Study type (level of evidence) | Outcome | Key results | Study weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skorodin MS et al, 1995, USA | 72 adults (70 male) presenting to ED with exacerbation COPD randomised to 1.2 g magnesium sulphate or placebo after receiving 2.5 mg nebulised salbutamol | Double blinded PRCT | Change in PEFR at 30 min and 45 min | 25.1 l/min better for MgSO4 at 30 min, 7.4 l/min better for MgSO4 at 45 min (p = 0.03) | Male bias |
| Change in % PEFR at 30 min and 45 min | 22.4% for MgSO4 at 30 min, 6.1% at 45 min (p = 0.01) | Patients with high temperature or radiological signs of infection excluded | |||
| Need for hospitalisation | 28.1% for MgSO4 group v 41.9% for placebo (p = 0.25) | Three patients received 3 g magnesium sulphate instead of 1.2 g |
