Cardiovascular outcomes in children with COVID-19 LMICs: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]

Background: We do not fully comprehend the medical problems that COVID-19 causes in children. Most children infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus exhibit no symptoms or only minor COVID-19 signs, while a few children develop severe sickness. The main aim of the study is to describe the protocol of a systematic review that will evaluate the available scientific information on the role of the cardiovascular system in the outcomes of children with COVID-19 in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: Protocols for Preferred Reporting Items in Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses provide the basis for this study. PubMed, Scopus, SciELO, ScienceDirect, COCHRANE, and EMBASE are the databases to be searched from January 2020. Studies will be analyzed in order to obtain the following information: authors, year of publication, location of the research, type of study, sample size and age, clinical manifestations, treatment plan, follow-up duration, important variables, and key findings. Following the preliminary examination conducted by two unbiased review authors, the selected papers will be subjected to the appropriate evaluation in order to be sorted according to the inclusion criteria. Two impartial review authors will also evaluate risk bias using the appropriate techniques. Additionally, evaluation, publication bias analysis, and study heterogeneity evaluation will be carried out. Results: We anticipate our research will lead to articles that reinforce clinical judgments for the best management of cardiovascular involvement and repercussions in the outcomes of children with COVID-19. Conclusions: The systematic review will discuss the findings to shed light on the cardiovascular involvement and consequences in children with COVID-19, allowing medical professionals to treat COVID-19 in children with cardiovascular issues better.