Revista de SIDA e investigación clínica

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome complications are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among non-communicable diseases in the world. The onset of these diseases can be attributed to factors such as genetic susceptibility, poor diets, and chronic medications. Antiretroviral (ARVs) for Human Immunity Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) have been previously associated with complications such as central obesity which is a risk factor for the onset of the metabolic syndrome. This protocol outlines the process for conducting a systematic review to investigate the association between chronic ARVs treatment and the onset of metabolic syndrome complications.

Methodology and analysis: The studies included in the systematic review are selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. These studies are searched using search engines or databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Medline, Science direct, and Embase Database. Articles will be screened against inclusion and exclusion criteria in two stages, first by the title and abstract, and second by the full article. The articles that remained after full article screening will be assessed for bias and the data will be extracted. The heterogeneity test will be conducted using both x² and I² tests, meta-analysis and data will be presented in forest plots, odds of ratio, and standard error of a mean.

Dissemination and registration: The current protocol paper narrates the methods that will be followed when conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis about the risks of ARVs in the development of metabolic diseases, focusing on ARV regimen one and regimen two. The results intend to give an insight about the ARVs as one of the risk factors of metabolic diseases and further elaborate on the regimen that possesses a high risk between the first and second regimens. This protocol has been registered on PROSPERO Database # CRD42022316038.