Traditional cardiovascular risk factors and coronary collateral circulation: Protocol for a systematic review and...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Interventional Cardiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Well-developed coronary collateral circulation is crucial for reducing infarct size, improving cardiac function, and lowering mortality.
• Traditional coronary risk factors, including diabetes, hypertension, and smoking, are implicated in coronary collateral circulation, but their precise association remains debated.
• Existing evidence on the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and coronary collateral circulation is conflicting, necessitating further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the relationship between traditional cardiovascular risk factors and coronary collateral circulation.
• To synthesize current evidence and provide a high-quality overview of traditional risk factors' impact on collateral circulation.
• To clarify the controversial associations between diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and the development of coronary collateral circulation.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search will be conducted across MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Science Citation Index.
• Meta-analysis will be employed to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for traditional coronary risk factors.
• Quality assessment, sensitivity analysis, publication bias analysis, and GRADE approach will ensure the reliability of the findings.

Main Results:

• This meta-analysis protocol outlines the planned synthesis of current evidence regarding traditional risk factors and collateral circulation.
• The study aims to provide a robust analysis of the association between key cardiovascular risk factors and the development of coronary collateral circulation.
• Results will be presented as pooled odds ratios with confidence intervals, offering quantitative insights into these relationships.

Conclusions:

• The systematic review and meta-analysis will provide evidence to determine whether traditional risk factors influence coronary collateral circulation.
• Findings will contribute to a better understanding of the role of modifiable risk factors in cardiovascular health.
• The study's conclusions will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal.