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Systematic and Other Reviews

Living systematic reviews - what and why?

What is a living systematic review?

A living systematic review (LSR) is characterised as a systematic review that is continually updated, incorporating relevant new evidence as it becomes available. LSR is a continual approach to review updating, it is not a formal review methodology and can be applied to any type of review. LSR use standard systematic review methodology, and a clearly defined a priori commitment to a predetermined frequency of search and review updating.

The above is adapted from Living systematic review: 1. Introduction—the why, what, when, and how

 

Why do a living systematic review? 

  • to produce evidence that is reliable and current
  • if the current body of evidence is small, and new information is likely to change the findings of the systematic review
  • when the field of research is fast moving, and new evidence is rapidly emerging

 

Reporting for living systematic reviews

PRISMA have developed an extension for LSR for use in addition to the PRISMA 2020 statement: