Effect of myrtol on chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: The key to the management of chronic obstructive (CB) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is to control symptoms of the disease and to prevent deterioration in the health of affected patients. Myrtol has been proved to be effective in treating the symptoms of patients with CB and COPD and preventing the deterioration in their health. However, there has been no systematic review of the efficacy and safety of myrtol in the treatment of CB or COPD. The purpose of this study is going to evaluate the effects of myrtol on the management of CB or COPD based on randomized controlled trials. METHODS: Electronic literature and other ongoing studies will be searched before November 31, 2019. Randomized controlled trials that report the use of myrtol in the treatment of CB or COPD (in the absence and presence of concurrent treatments) will be selected for inclusion regardless of language. Primary outcomes will include cumulative numbers of exacerbation events and the number of days of disability including days in bed, days off work due to breathing complications, and days on which the participant was unable to undertake normal activities due to breathing complications. Study selection, data extraction, and deviation the derivation risk assessment will be carried out by 2 independent investigators. Meta-analysis will be carried out by the RevMan5.3 software. RESULTS: The study will provide summary results for estimating the efficacy and safety of myrtol for future treatments of CB or COPD. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review will determine if myrtol is an effective and a safe intervention on the symptoms and the prevention of exacerbation of CB or COPD. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval will not be required for this study because no identifying patient data will be used. The review will be published as an article or a conference presentation in a peer-reviewed journal. REGISTRATION: OSF registration number: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/PXRBV