title: Interventions for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases: a protocol for a systematic review of economic evaluations in low-income and middle-income countries.
abstract: Low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) are experiencing a growing disease burden due to cardiovascular and other chronic non-communicable diseases. Interventions for the control of these diseases are paramount; however, these countries are faced with competing health and financial needs. There is an urgent need for quality evidence on cost-effective strategies to address these chronic diseases. We aim to synthesise the current literature on economic evaluations of interventions for primary and secondary cardiovascular disease prevention in LMICs.
  
  
  
  A systematic review of studies (published and unpublished) in LMICs up to 30 October 2016 will be conducted. The following databases will be searched: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, CINAHL, Web of Science, EconLit, NHS Economic Evaluations Database (NHS EED). Data sources specific to African literature, such as the WHO AFROLIB, Africa Index Medicus and African Journals online (AJOL) as well as grey literature, will also be searched. 2 reviewers shall independently screen potential articles for inclusion and disagreements shall be resolved by consensus. Quality appraisal of studies shall be done using Drummond's checklist for economic evaluation of studies. A descriptive synthesis of the evidence obtained is planned. The primary outcomes will be costs per life years gained or unit of clinical outcome, cost per quality-adjusted life years or disability-adjusted life years. This systematic review protocol has been prepared according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses for Protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement.
  
  
  
  Ethics approval is not required considering that this is a protocol for a systematic review of published studies. Results from this review will be disseminated via conference presentations and peer-reviewed journal publications.
  
  
  
  CRD42016043510.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.|Non-communicable Diseases Unit, Clinical Research Education, Networking & Consultancy (CRENC), Douala, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Leopold Ndemnge
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Aminde
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Lennert
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Veerman
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics; D003906:Developing Countries; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012107:Research Design; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic
keywords: cardiovascular disease prevention; cost effectiveness; economic evaluation; low income countries