Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine decoction in the treatment of adolescent myopia A protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis

Background: Adolescent myopia has become a major public health problem in Asian countries and even the world. Due to its unstable prognosis and numerous complications, it has caused serious social and economic burden. As a common treatment in Asia, Chinese medicine has been shown to be effective in controlling the development of myopia, but its evidence-based medical evidence is not sufficient. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of adolescent myopia through network meta-analysis, and to provide evidence for clinical and scientific research. Methods: We searched seven databases for randomized controlled trials of TCM decoction for adolescent myopia, including PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMbase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Biological Medicine, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, and wan-fang databases, from the date of the establishment of each database to January 31, 2022. The network meta-analysis will be implemented through Aggregate Data Drug Information System 1.16.8 and Stata 13.0 software. Primary outcomes include distant vision, intraocular pressure, and diopter. Mean differences or odds ratios will be used for statistical analysis. We will ensure the reliability of the results through node-split model and heterogeneity analysis. In addition, the Cochrane Collaboration's tool and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system will be used for the methodological quality and the evidence quality. Results: This study will provide reliable evidence for the clinical selection of TCM decoction in the treatment of adolescent myopia. Conclusion: The results of this study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of TCM decoction in the treatment of adolescent myopia, and provide decision-making references for future clinical and scientific research. Ethics and dissemination: This study did not require ethical approval. We will disseminate our findings by publishing results in a peer-reviewed journal. OSF registration number: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/VXQUP.