Prevalence and risk factors of paediatric acute ischaemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

Abstract

Paediatric acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) is a rare but severe neurological condition, often leading to long-term disability and considerable societal burden. Compared with adults, paediatric AIS exhibits distinct clinical characteristics and aetiologies, making early identification and prevention more challenging. This study aims to systematically review the prevalence and risk factors of paediatric AIS, providing a comprehensive evidence base for clinical prevention and management. A systematic search will be conducted across major databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library, from inception to August 2025. We will include observational studies reporting on the prevalence or risk factors of paediatric AIS. Two independent reviewers will screen the literature, extract data and assess study quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Meta-analysis will be performed using RevMan 5.4 and StataMP 16.0. Heterogeneity will be evaluated using the I² statistic, and subgroup and sensitivity analyses will be conducted as needed. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system will be used to assess the quality of evidence. Because no patients were involved, ethical approval was not required. The final results of this research will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal or presented at relevant conferences, and any deviations from this protocol will be recorded and explained in the final report. This study has been registered in the PROSPERO (PROSPERO Registration Number: CRD420251067538).