Abstract
BackgroundNumerous studies have measured the prognostic associations between cardiorespiratory fitness and patient outcomes in congenital heart disease, but no systematic review has assessed these associations for all types of congenital heart disease. It is therefore a timely opportunity to syntheses all available data using a systematic review methodology. The aim of this study is to detail the protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.ObjectivesWithin this paper we have developed a protocol for a prognostic factors systematic review and meta-analysis, to assess the role of cardiopulmonary exercise testing/cardiorespiratory fitness, in the prognosis of mortality and morbidity in congenital heart disease.MethodsWe have outlined, in detail, the process for this systematic review using the latest accepted methodological guidelines for prognostic factors research, such as the PICOTS system, CHARMS-PF data extraction, QUIPS risk of bias assessments and the prognostic GRADE guidelines (see list of abbreviations).ConclusionThe implications of this review will aid future treatments, interventions and individual patient risk prediction. The publication of this protocol aims to improve scientific rigour by ensuring transparency in the systematic review and meta-analysis process.
Highlights
Congenital heart disease (ConHD) is a structural abnormality of the heart or intrathoracic vessels [1], occurring in approximately 1 % of all births worldwide [2, 3]
Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is overall lower in patients with ConHD compared to healthy controls, it is highly heterogeneous both within and between individual ConHD diagnoses, with the more severe conditions presenting with lower levels of fitness [10]
This is important as several studies have reported significant associations between CRF and mortality and morbidity in ConHD [11–15]
Summary
Congenital heart disease (ConHD) is a structural abnormality of the heart or intrathoracic vessels [1], occurring in approximately 1 % of all births worldwide [2, 3] These defects are inclusive of a broad spectrum of over 18 different types of cardiac pathologies [4–6]. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is overall lower in patients with ConHD compared to healthy controls, it is highly heterogeneous both within and between individual ConHD diagnoses, with the more severe conditions presenting with lower levels of fitness [10]. This is important as several studies have reported significant associations between CRF and mortality and morbidity in ConHD [11–15]. The aim of this study is to detail the protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
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