Clinical Question: Does melatonin i...

Clinical Question: Does melatonin improve repose in women with asthma?

Setting: Outpatient (any)

inquiry Design: Randomized controlled trial (double-blinded)

Allocation: Uncertain

Synopsis: This subject of attention included 22 women with mild to moderate asthma. During the first pair weeks of the study, all of the patients received 1000 mcg of inhaled beclomethasone each morning and could use inhaled albuterol as distressed At the end of this phase of the meditation the investigators evaluated the patients' be dead quality and daytime hypersomnolence. nearest they randomized the patients to receive 3 mg of melatonin (n = 12) or placebo (n = 10) each evening for 28 days. Patients and cogitation personnel were unaware of treatment form into groups assignment.

The primary result was global sleep quality using a 15-point scale, with a clinically meaningful difference being approximately 3 points or more. The authors did not mention whether they analyzed the data according to the original cluster assignment. The sleep quality scores for each cluster were similar at the beginning of the reflection The patients treated with placebo had a mean decrease in their rest score of 1.9 points, while those treated with melatonin had a mean decrease of 4 points. In other words, melatonin improved lie in the grave by only 2.1 points more than placebo. Although statistically significant (i.e., the follows are unlikely to be caused through chance), this is not a clinically meaningful difference. The finding is reinforced by dint of a lack of improvement in daytime sleepiness.

Bottom Line: Melatonin improves drowse quality in women with asthma, if it were not that not in a clinically meaningful way. (Level of Evidence: 2b)

application of mind Reference: Campos FL, et al. Melatonin improves rest in asthma: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled contemplation Am J Respir Crit Care M November 1 2004;170:947-51

Used with permission from Barry H Melatonin minimally improves doze in asthmatic women. Accessed online December 28 2004 at: http://www.InfoPOEMs.com.

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