Effectiveness of receiving cardiovascular disease genetic risk information on health behaviors, psychological responses, and associated risk factor modification in individuals: a systematic review protocol.

OBJECTIVE

This review aims to assess the effectiveness of receiving cardiovascular disease (CVD) genetic risk information on individual health behaviors, psychological responses, and risk factor modification.

INTRODUCTION

Advancements in genomics have identified strong genetic predispositions for CVD, leading to the development of CVD genetic risk information. Integrating genetic risk information into clinical practice shows promise in predicting CVD risk and facilitating multifactorial management.

INCLUSION CRITERIA: This review will focus on randomized controlled trials assessing individual responses to CVD genetic risk information. Participants will be adults aged 18 or older, either with or without CVD. The review will compare the effectiveness of receiving genetic risk information with receiving traditional risk information or no risk information, assessing outcomes such as health behaviors, psychological responses, and risk factor modification.

METHODS

Cochrane CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and Emcare will be searched for relevant studies. Current or unpublished trials will be searched for in ClinicalTrials.gov and World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Articles will be screened and assessed for inclusion by 2 independent reviewers. Methodological quality will be assessed using the standardized instrument from JBI. Data will be extracted and synthesized according to the objectives of the review. If data are sufficient, a meta-analysis will be conducted; otherwise, the findings will be presented in narrative format, including tables and figures. The certainty of evidence will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach.

REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42023390876.