Interrelationships between migraine over the counter (OTC) painkillers and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Migraine during pregnancy is common and has been reported to affect up to 10% of pregnancies. Irrespective of the type of migraine, over the counter (OTC) painkillers are used as a migraine treatment plan. Growing evidence suggests that OTC painkillers have effects on the mother, the child and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including hypertension, eclampsia and pre-eclampsia, but inconsistent findings have been reported. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate the association between the use of migraine OTC painkillers and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. METHODS: Databases such as Pubmed, Cochrane library, ScienceDirect and google scholar will be searched to identify eligible studies. Studies will be included if they are randomised controlled trials, cohort, and matched cohort, and cross-sectional studies of pregnant women with reported use of OTC painkillers to treat migraines at any stage of their pregnancy. The results will be reported based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis 2009 statement, and article screening and selection process will also be demonstrated through a preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis for protocols flow diagram. The data will then be extracted by 1 reviewer and checked by another for accuracy. The quality and risk of bias of eligible studies will be performed by both reviewers using the Hoy tool and grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation tool. The data will be analysed using Review Manager 5.3 (RevMan 5.3) software. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The review and meta-analysis will not require ethical approval and the findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at local and international conferences. Findings from this study will help to improve knowledge on the understanding of the effects OCT on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. This study will also provide new information on the management of migraine during pregnancy. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: International prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSERO) number: CRD42021232232.