title: Effects of anabolic steroids on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anabolic steroids are known to improve body composition and muscle strength in healthy people. However, whether anabolic steroids improve the physical condition and function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains undetermined. A meta-analysis was conducted to review the current evidence regarding the effects of anabolic steroids on COPD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive literature search of PubMed and EMBASE was performed to identify randomised controlled trials that examine the effects of anabolic steroids on COPD patients. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to determine differences between anabolic steroid administration and control conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight eligible studies involving 273 COPD patients were identified in this meta-analysis. Significant improvements were found in body weight (0.956 kg), fat-free mass (1.606 kg), St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire total score (-6.336) and symptom score (-12.148). The apparent improvements in maximal inspiratory pressure (2.740 cmH2O) and maximal expiratory pressure (12.679 cmH2O) were not significant. The effects on handgrip strength, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), predicted FEV1 percent, PaO2, PaCO2 and six-min walk distance were negative, with WMDs of -0.245 kg, -0.096 L/sec, -1.996% of predicted, -1.648 cmHg, -0.039 cmHg and -16.102 meters, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Limited evidence available from the published literature suggests that the benefit of anabolic steroids on COPD patients cannot be denied. However, further studies are needed to identify the specific benefits and adverse effects of anabolic steroids on COPD patients and to determine the optimal populations and regimes of anabolic steroids in COPD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Manyuan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Xuzhou Hospital of Medical College of Southeast University, Xuzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiaomei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Xuzhou Hospital of Medical College of Southeast University, Xuzhou, China.
authors.forename: Changjun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Xuzhou Hospital of Medical College of Southeast University, Xuzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yongzhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017594:Publication Bias; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents; D013256:Steroids