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. 2022 Jun 9;11(1):118.
doi: 10.1186/s13643-022-01991-8.

Genetic variants associated with the occurrence and progression of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a systematic review protocol

Elizabeth A Terhune  1 , Patricia C Heyn  2   3   4 , Christi R Piper  5 , Nancy Hadley-Miller  6   7
Affiliations

Genetic variants associated with the occurrence and progression of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a systematic review protocol

Elizabeth A Terhune et al. Syst Rev. .

Abstract

Background: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a structural lateral spinal curvature of ≥ 10° with rotation. Approximately 2-3% of children in most populations are affected with AIS, and this condition is responsible for approximately $1.1 billion in surgical costs to the US healthcare system. Although a genetic factor for AIS has been demonstrated for decades, with multiple potentially contributory loci identified across populations, treatment options have remained limited to bracing and surgery.

Methods: The databases MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase, Google Scholar, and Ovid MEDLINE will be searched and limited to articles in English. We will conduct title and abstract, full-text, and data extraction screening through Covidence, followed by data transfer to a custom REDCap database. Quality assessment will be confirmed by multiple reviewers. Studies containing variant-level data (i.e., GWAS, exome sequencing) for AIS subjects and controls will be considered. Outcomes of interest will include presence/absence of AIS, scoliosis curve severity, scoliosis curve progression, and presence/absence of nucleotide-level variants. Analyses will include odds ratios and relative risk assessments, and subgroup analysis (i.e., males vs. females, age groups) may be applied. Quality assessment tools will include GRADE and Q-Genie for genetic studies.

Discussion: In this systematic review, we seek to evaluate the quality of genetic evidence for AIS to better inform research efforts, to ultimately improve the quality of patient care and diagnosis.

Systematic review registration: PROSPERO registration #CRD42021243253.

Keywords: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS); Exome sequencing; Genetic studies; Genome-wide association; Protocol; Systematic review; Targeted sequencing; Variants; Whole genome sequencing.

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Conflict of interest statement

NHM declares the following interests: grant funding from the National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases; Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America, and Scoliosis Research Society. All other authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Radiographs of children with a normal spine (left) and severe adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) (right), shown with Cobb angle measurements
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Flow chart overview of study design
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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