Management of acute bronchitis in Switzerland with Pelargonium sidoides extract EPS®7630 versus usual care – a pragmatic, open-label, randomised controlled trial

This study was to conduct a pragmatic randomised controlled trial (RCT) meeting all required standards to evaluate the effectiveness of Pelargonium sidoides extract, EPs® 7630, in the management of acute bronchitis with or without COVID-19 in primary care practices and walk-in clinics in French-speaking Switzerland. The goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs® 7630, also known under the brand name Kaloba®, in the management of acute bronchitis. The main research questions were (1) Is Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs® 7630 effective to reduce the severity and the duration of symptoms related to acute bronchitis ? and (2) Does Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs® 7630 allow to reduce the prescription of antibiotics?Participants were randomized 1:1 either in the control group (usual care) or in the intervention group (Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs® 7630). There was no evidence that EPs®7630 contributed to reduce symptom duration or antibiotic use significantly.