Living systematic review

A living systematic review (LSR) is a type of systematic review that is updated continuously or regularly over time as new evidence becomes available. The goal of an LSR is to provide up-to-date and reliable information on a specific topic or question by incorporating new studies and evidence as they are published.

Unlike traditional systematic reviews, which are typically conducted as a one-time analysis of all available evidence up to a certain point in time, LSRs are designed to be ongoing and iterative. As new studies are published, they are evaluated and incorporated into the review, allowing for the review's conclusions to be updated and refined.

LSRs have several benefits over traditional systematic reviews, including:

1. Continuous or regular updates: LSRs are updated on a regular basis, usually at predetermined intervals, to incorporate new evidence and evaluate the impact of new studies on the review's conclusions.

2. Transparent and reproducible methods: LSRs follow the same rigorous and transparent methods as traditional systematic reviews, including a clearly defined search strategy, study selection criteria, and data extraction procedures.

3. Dynamic synthesis of evidence: LSRs use statistical methods and software to combine and synthesize data from multiple studies, allowing for an up-to-date and comprehensive summary of the available evidence.

4. Ongoing stakeholder engagement: LSRs often involve ongoing engagement with stakeholders, including clinicians, patients, and policymakers, to ensure that the review remains relevant and useful.

However, LSRs also have some potential limitations, including:

1. Increased workload and resource requirements: LSRs require ongoing effort and resources to keep the review up-to-date, which can be challenging for research teams with limited resources.

2. Increased potential for bias: LSRs may be more prone to bias due to the potential for selective inclusion of studies over time.

In summary, a living systematic review is a type of systematic review that is updated continuously or regularly over time as new evidence becomes available. LSRs provide up-to-date and relevant information to inform clinical practice and policy decisions, while also following rigorous and transparent methodology.

References:

1. What is a Living Systematic Review? - Systematic Reviews & Other Review Types - Research Guides at Temple University 

2. Living systematic reviews | Cochrane Community 

3. Living systematic reviews at The BMJ | The BMJ 

4. What Is A Living Systematic Review - DistillerSR