The Efficacy Of Magnesium Sulfate In Adult Patients With Severe Asthma: A Meta-analysis

ObjectiveThis meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effectiveness of magnesium sulfate on treating adult patients with severe asthma.MethodElectronic document retrieval of EMBASE,PUBMED,CENTRAL,Web of Science,VIP,Wanfang,CNKI were performed up to December,2015.We included the randomized controlled trials in which patients were diagnosed as severe asthma and treated with magnesium sulfate.Outcomes include pulmonary functions,hospital admission,pulse rate,respiratory rate and Borg dyspnea score.Results7 trials were involved including 1241 patients.This meta analysis showed that Magnesium sulfate group was better in improving pulmonary function(SMD:0.32,95%CI:0.08,0.55,P:0.008)and reducing the hospitalization rate [RR=0.87,95%CI(0.80,0.95),P=0.001].There is no statistical difference in pulse rate[MD=-3.95,95%CI(-8.25,0.34),P=0.07],respiratory rate[MD=-0.12,95%CI(-0.66,0.41),P=0.65],Borg dyspnea score[MD=-0.24,95%CI(-0.62,0.15),P=0.23].ConclusionThe magnesium sulfate,in addition to standard treatment of severe asthma,appears to improve pulmonary function and reduce the hospitalization rate,but it cannot improve the pulse rate,respiratory rate and Borg dyspnea score.