Prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus among hepatitis C virus-infected patients: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION: The ever-increasing global hepatitis C infection is fueling the burden of diabetes mellitus, which exaggerates various complications and may be a cause of death for millions. Several studies have reported that hepatitis C virus infection is an important risk factor for the development of diabetes mellitus. However, the results of fragmented studies reported variable and inconsistent findings on the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus among hepatitis C virus-infected patients. Therefore, this protocol for meta-analysis will determine the overall pooled prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients infected with hepatitis C virus. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This systematic review and meta-analysis will include original articles of cohort and cross-sectional studies published in English. A systematic search will be performed in PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar. A fixed/random-effects meta-analysis model will be used to estimate the global pooled prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus among hepatitis C virus-infected patients. Sensitivity analysis will be conducted to check the stability of the summary estimate. Heterogeneity will be assessed using the I(2) statistic. Subgroup analysis will also be conducted based on geographical region. Funnel plots and Egger’s test and Begg’s test will be used to assess for publication bias. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The review is based on published data; therefore, ethical approval is not required. The systematic review and meta-analysis will summarize the existing data on the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus among hepatitis C virus-infected patients at the global level. This provides the empirical evidence necessary for researchers, policymakers, and public health stakeholders to derive health-promoting policies, allocate resources, and set priorities for monitoring future trends. The final result will be presented at annual scientific meetings, conferences, and seminars. Moreover, it will also be published in a peer-reviewed reputable journal. We also plan to review every 5 years to provide updated information. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42018083409 ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s13643-019-0976-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.