Prognostic Prediction Models for Patients with Low Back Pain: Systematic Review Protocol

Abstract Background: The prognosis of acute low back pain is generally favourable in terms of pain and disability; however, outcomes vary substantially between individual patients. Clinical prediction models help in estimating the likelihood of an outcome at a certain time point. There are existing clinical prediction models focused on prognosis for patients with low back pain. To date, there is only one previous systematic review summarising the discrimination of validated clinical prediction models to identify the prognosis in patients with low back pain of less than 3 months duration. The aim of this systematic review is to identify existing developed and/or validated clinical prediction models on prognosis of patients with low back pain of less than 3 months duration, and to summarise their performance in terms of discrimination and calibration. Methods: MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL databases will be searched, from the inception of these databases until January 2020. Eligibility criteria will be: (1) prognostic model development studies with or without external validation, or prognostic external validation studies with or without model updating; (2) with adults aged 18 or over, with ‘recent onset’ low back pain (i.e. less than 3 months duration), with or without leg pain; (3) outcomes of pain, disability, sick leave or days absent from work or return to work status, and self-reported recovery; and (4) study with a follow-up of at least 12 weeks duration. The risk of bias of the included studies will be assessed by the Prediction model Risk Of Bias ASsessment Tool, and the overall quality of evidence will be rated using the Hierarchy of Evidence for Clinical Prediction Rules. Discussion: This systematic review will identify, appraise, and summarize evidence on the performance of existing prediction models for prognosis of low back pain, and may help clinicians to choose the best option of prediction model to better inform patients about their likely prognosis. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO reference number CRD42020160988