Table 3 The effect of probiotic treatment on the number, duration, severity and combined load of lower respiratory symptoms
Effect of probiotic relative to placebo (mean; 99% CI) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Probiotic group (mean ± SD) | Placebo group (mean ± SD) | Ratio | Difference | Qualitative inference | |
Males | |||||
Number of episodes | 0.6 ± 0.9 | 1.0 ± 1.5 | 0.55; 0.15 to 1.60 | Likely ↓ | |
Duration (d) | 3.5 ± 6.6 | 7.4 ± 10.3 | 0.47; 0.10 to 1.43 | Likely ↓ | |
Severity (1-3 scale) | 1.23 ± 0.36 | 1.65 ± 0.57 | -0.43 -0.92 to 0.08 | Possible ↓ | |
Symptom Load (severity-days) | 4.0 ± 7.2 | 13.0 ± 19.0 | 0.31; 0.07 to 0.96 | Very likely ↓ | |
Females | |||||
Number of episodes | 1.6 ± 2.1 | 0.5 ± 0.8 | 3.27; 0.82 to 21 | Likely ↑ | |
Duration (d) | 12.2 ± 14.8 | 5.1 ± 14.7 | 2.39; 0.45 to 43 | Likely ↑ | |
Severity (1-3 scale) | 1.38 ± 0.45 | 2.07 ± 0.77 | -0.69 -1.57 to 0.10 | Possible ↓ | |
Symptom Load (severity-days) | 17.1 ± 19.0 | 7.9 ± 20.7 | 2.18; 0.41 to 27.23 | Likely ↑ | |