Prediction models for venous thromboembolism in pediatric patients: A protocol for systematic review and critical appraisal

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in children is a severe disease with high mortality rates. It is also gradually recognized as a major source of morbidity in hospitalized children, leading to increased length of hospital stay, higher mortality, and increased costs. The majority of pediatric subjects with VTE present inherited or acquired risk factors,such as the use of a central venous catheter (CVC), which accounts for more than more than 90% of neonatal VTE and 50% of pediatric VTE. Clinical studies on predictive models for VTE in children have shown inconsistent results. This systematic review aims to evaluate published prediction models for pediatric VTE, analyzing their characteristics, predictors, efficacy, and the methodological quality and applicability. The protocol has been prepared using the Preferred Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. The systematic review protocol for VTE prediction in pediatric patients has been registered on PROSPERO (PROSPERO 2025CRD420251231316. Available from https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/vi-ew/CRD420251231316.) A comprehensive search across five major databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, and Wanfang) will be conducted for studies on prediction models of VTE among pediatric patients. Two researchers will independently screen literature, extract data, and evaluate the bias risk and applicability of included studies using prediction modelling study tools. This systematic review will provide critical insights into the efficacy and quality of reporting of the VTE model in pediatric patients. This will guide clinical physicians in selecting the most appropriate VTE prediction model and inform future research endeavors in pediatric VTE prediction.