Review methods

risk for major cardiovascular events in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease* Singh S, Loke YK, Furberg CD. Inhaled anticholinergics and risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2008;300:1439-50. Question In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), do inhaled anticholinergics increase risk for major cardiovascular events? Review scope Studies selected compared an inhaled anticholinergic with placebo or active drugs in patients with COPD and reported serious cardio-vascular adverse events. Outcomes were a composite cardiovascular endpoint (nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke [includ-ing transient ischemic attack], or cardiovascular death [including sudden death]), its components, and all-cause death