TY - JOUR
T1 - Diagnostic accuracy of clinical diagnostic scoring systems for childhood tuberculosis
T2 - a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
AU - Kakinda, Michael
AU - Olum, Ronald
AU - Baluku, Joseph Baruch
AU - Bongomin, Felix
N1 - © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
PY - 2023/4/21
Y1 - 2023/4/21
N2 - INTRODUCTION: Diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis (TB) poses several challenges. Therefore, clinical signs and symptoms, radiological studies, laboratory examinations, point-based scoring systems or diagnostic algorithms have been developed to improve diagnostic yields in this population. However, there are limited data on the diagnostic test accuracy of paediatric TB scoring systems. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aims to synthesise the available evidence on the diagnostic accuracy of childhood TB diagnostic scoring systems.METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This protocol describes a systematic review, developed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses of Diagnostic Test Accuracy. We will conduct a comprehensive literature search for relevant articles in the following databases: PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane Databases. The eligibility criteria for studies will be formulated based on the Participants (Population), Index Test, Comparator Test and Target Condition criteria for the review question. The index test will be defined as any attempt to diagnose childhood TB using either a scoring system or a diagnostic algorithm, whereas a composite reference standard will be used as a reference standard. This will include any attempt to confirm diagnosis of TB. Where bacteriological confirmation is not obtained and there are at least two of the following features: chest radiograph consistent with TB, immunological evidence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and/or positive response to TB treatment will also be considered. The QUADAS-2 Tool will be used to assess the quality of the studies. The diagnostic accuracy measures (ie, sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive and positive predictive values) will be pooled with the random-effects or fixed-effects models, as appropriate. All statistical analyses will be performed using the Review Manager V.5.4.ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This research is exempt from ethics approval given that this is a protocol for a systematic review, which uses published data. The findings from this review will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and scientific conferences.PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022367049.
AB - INTRODUCTION: Diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis (TB) poses several challenges. Therefore, clinical signs and symptoms, radiological studies, laboratory examinations, point-based scoring systems or diagnostic algorithms have been developed to improve diagnostic yields in this population. However, there are limited data on the diagnostic test accuracy of paediatric TB scoring systems. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aims to synthesise the available evidence on the diagnostic accuracy of childhood TB diagnostic scoring systems.METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This protocol describes a systematic review, developed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses of Diagnostic Test Accuracy. We will conduct a comprehensive literature search for relevant articles in the following databases: PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane Databases. The eligibility criteria for studies will be formulated based on the Participants (Population), Index Test, Comparator Test and Target Condition criteria for the review question. The index test will be defined as any attempt to diagnose childhood TB using either a scoring system or a diagnostic algorithm, whereas a composite reference standard will be used as a reference standard. This will include any attempt to confirm diagnosis of TB. Where bacteriological confirmation is not obtained and there are at least two of the following features: chest radiograph consistent with TB, immunological evidence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and/or positive response to TB treatment will also be considered. The QUADAS-2 Tool will be used to assess the quality of the studies. The diagnostic accuracy measures (ie, sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive and positive predictive values) will be pooled with the random-effects or fixed-effects models, as appropriate. All statistical analyses will be performed using the Review Manager V.5.4.ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This research is exempt from ethics approval given that this is a protocol for a systematic review, which uses published data. The findings from this review will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and scientific conferences.PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022367049.
KW - Humans
KW - Child
KW - Sensitivity and Specificity
KW - Tuberculosis/diagnosis
KW - Reference Standards
KW - Research Design
KW - Meta-Analysis as Topic
KW - Systematic Reviews as Topic
KW - Tuberculosis
KW - Community child health
KW - Diagnostic microbiology
U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069448
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069448
M3 - Article
C2 - 37085315
SN - 2044-6055
VL - 13
JO - BMJ Open
JF - BMJ Open
IS - 4
M1 - e069448
ER -
