RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Helminth infections, atopy, asthma and allergic diseases: protocol for a systematic review of observational studies worldwide
JF BMJ Open
JO BMJ Open
FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group
SP e038085
DO 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-038085
VO 10
IS 5
A1 Margarete Arrais
A1 Tiago Maricoto
A1 Philip Cooper
A1 Jorge M R Gama
A1 Bright I Nwaru
A1 Miguel Brito
A1 Luís Taborda-Barata
YR 2020
UL http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/5/e038085.abstract
AB Introduction Childhood infections, particularly those caused by helminths are considered to be important environmental exposures influencing the development of allergic diseases. However, epidemiological studies focusing on the relationship between helminth infections and risk of allergic diseases, performed worldwide, show inconsistent findings. Previous systematic reviews of observational studies published 10 or more years ago showed conflicting findings for effects of helminths on allergic diseases. Over the past 10 years there has been growing literature addressing this research area and these need to be considered in order to appreciate the most contemporary evidence. The objective of the current systematic review will be to provide an up-to-date synthesis of findings of observational studies investigating the influence of helminth infections on atopy, and allergic diseases.Methods and analysis This systematic review protocol was registered at PROSPERO. We will search Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, ISI Web of Science, WHO Global Health Library, Scielo, IndMed, PakMediNet, KoreaMed, Ichushi for published studies from 1970 to January 2020. Bibliographies of all eligible studies will be reviewed to identify additional studies. Unpublished and ongoing research will also be searched in key databases. There will be no language or geographical restrictions regarding publications. Critical Appraisal Skills Programme quality assessment tool will be used to appraise methodological quality of included studies. A descriptive summary with data tables will be constructed, and if adequate, meta-analysis using random-effects will be performed. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist will be followed for reporting of the systematic review.Ethics and dissemination Since this systematic review will be only based on published and retrievable literature, no ethics approval will be sought. The multidisciplinary team performing this systematic review will participate in relevant dissemination activities. Findings will be presented at scientific meetings and publish the systematic review in international, peer-reviewed, open-access journals.PROSPERO registration number CRD42020167249.