Use of ECG monitoring for adult patients taking high-risk QT interval-prolonging drugs in clinical practice: a systematic review protocol.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this review is to determine the rates of electrocardiogram use in adult patients taking high-risk QT interval-prolonging drugs in clinical settings. This review will determine the extent of ECG monitoring being used to mitigate the risk of drug-induced QT prolongation.

INTRODUCTION

High-risk QT interval-prolonging drugs pose a well-established risk of cardiac arrhythmia, including torsades de pointes, among other serious long QT syndromes, which can be fatal. Detection and mitigation of QT prolongation involves use of electrocardiogram monitoring. This systematic review will present evidence for uptake of electrocardiogram monitoring in clinical practice to support the quality use of high-risk QT interval-prolonging drugs.

INCLUSION CRITERIA: Quantitative studies, published from 2004 that determine the rate of electrocardiogram monitoring before and during use of high-risk QT interval-prolonging drugs in adults 18 years or older, either in community or hospital settings, will be eligible for inclusion.

METHODS

CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, and PubMed will be searched to identify published studies. EThOS, OpenGrey, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses will be searched to identify unpublished studies. Conference abstracts will be excluded. There will be no restriction on country or language. Two reviewers will independently screen and select studies, assess methodological quality, and extract data. The JBI approach to systematic reviews of prevalence and incidence will be followed. Meta-analysis will be performed, if possible, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Summary of Findings presented.