Hypoglycemic agents for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in Western countries, and strongly associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Several studies have shown that hypoglycemic agents are effective for NAFLD combined with T2DM. However, there is still controversy over which hypoglycemic agent is the best for NAFLD combined with T2DM patients. OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of hypoglycemic agents in NAFLD combined with T2DM patients. METHODS: A comprehensive electronic search will be conducted by searching Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Clinical Trials and Chinese Biomedical Medicine. All randomized controlled trials of hypoglycemic agents interventions for NAFLD combined with T2DM will be identified. Two reviewers independently screened and evaluated each included study and extracted the outcome indexes. ADDIS 1.16.8 software will be used for the network meta-analysis and STATA 14 software will be used for drawing network evidence plots and funnel plots. CONCLUSION: This network meta-analysis will provide stronger evidence for the efficacy and safety of hypoglycemic agents in the treatment of NAFLD combined with T2DM, and provide a reference for clinical application. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY202070016.