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. 2020 Nov 4;9(1):255.
doi: 10.1186/s13643-020-01506-3.

Analgesic medicines for adults with low back pain: protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Michael A Wewege  1   2 , Matthew K Bagg  2   3   4 , Matthew D Jones  1   2 , James H McAuley  5   6 ; ANiMALIA investigators
Collaborators, Affiliations

Analgesic medicines for adults with low back pain: protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Michael A Wewege et al. Syst Rev. .

Abstract

Background: There is limited evidence for the comparative effectiveness of analgesic medicines for adults with low back pain. This systematic review and network meta-analysis aims to determine the analgesic effect, safety, acceptability, effect on function, and relative rank according to analgesic effect, safety, acceptability, and effect on function of a single course of [an] analgesic medicine(s) or combination of these medicines for people with low back pain.

Methods: We will include published and unpublished randomised trials written in any language that compare an analgesic medicine to either another medicine, placebo/sham, or no intervention in adults with low back pain, grouped according to pain duration: acute (fewer than 6 weeks), sub-acute (6 to 12 weeks), and chronic (greater than 12 weeks). The co-primary outcomes are pain intensity following treatment and safety (adverse events). The secondary outcomes are function and acceptability (all-cause dropouts). We will perform a network meta-analysis to compare and rank analgesic medicines. We will form judgements of confidence in the results using the Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis (CINeMA) methodology.

Discussion: This network meta-analysis will establish which medicine, or combination of medicines, is most effective for reducing pain and safest for adults with low back pain.

Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42019145257.

Keywords: Analgesics [MeSH]; Low back pain [MeSH]; Meta-analysis as topic [MeSH]; Network meta-analysis [MeSH]; Systematic reviews as topic [MeSH].

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Conflict of interest statement

MAW, MDJ, and JHM declare no competing interests.

MKB received travel support from Memorial University of Newfoundland to speak about engagement with research evidence, including the effects of medicines.

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