Tuberculosis mortality: a critical assessment of definitions and protocol for a scoping review, systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) has killed more people than any other infection since records began. The Sustainable Development Goals and the World Health Organisation “End TB” Strategy prioritise key targets for reducing mortality due to TB. However, there seems to be limited research evidence available to inform how this target of reducing TB mortality may best be achieved. OBJECTIVES: We aim to describe and categorise the published literature concerning mortality due to TB and then to review, critically appraise and synthesise the evidence that interventions decrease mortality due to TB. METHODS: The Pubmed database will be searched. Screening and selection of eligible publications will be made by 2 independent reviewers and a third will be asked to resolve any discrepancies. Key information from selected publications will be extracted using a shared cloud-based spreadsheet. Quantitative assessments of the impacts of trial interventions on TB mortality will be extracted and synthesised using meta-analysis, if possible. When appropriate, the quality of trial evidence will be assessed.This systematic review and meta-analysis is registered with the PROSPERO database (CRD42023387877). CONCLUSIONS: We will review the current published evidence concerning TB mortality and how it may best be prevented. We aim to clarify research gaps and also to synthesise evidence in order to guide future policy and research.