Systematic reviews

PRISMA 2020 flow diagram example: updated systematic review

Example PRISMA 2020 flow diagram for an updated review, showing studies from the previous version, new studies and the total included.

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Previous studiesIdentification of studies via databases and registersRecords identified from:Databases (n = 1,097)MEDLINE (n = 486)Embase (n = 611)Registers (n = 38)WHO ICTRP (n = 38)Records removed before screening:Duplicate records removed (n = 402)Records screened (n = 733)Records excluded (n = 655)Reports sought for retrieval (n = 78)Reports not retrieved (n = 1)Reports assessed for eligibility(n = 77)Reports excluded:Wrong comparator (n = 25)Wrong study design (n = 33)Conference abstract only (n = 8)New studies included in review (n = 7)Reports of new included studies(n = 11)Studies included in previousversion of review (n = 18)Reports of studies included inprevious version of review(n = 22)Total studies included in review(n = 25)Reports of total included studies(n = 33)From: Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ 2021;372:n71. doi: 10.1136/bmj.n71.For more information, visit: http://www.prisma-statement.org/IdentificationScreeningIncluded
PRISMA 2020 flow diagram for an updated review. Illustrative data.

About this example

Updated reviews use their own PRISMA 2020 template. A “previous studies” column carries forward the studies included in the earlier version, and the diagram ends with the total number of studies and reports in the updated review.

Keep the new searches and the previous studies separate: only the records from the new searches go through identification and screening.

The data

Review typeUpdated review
Previous studies (reports)18 (22)
DatabasesMEDLINE (486), Embase (611)
RegistersWHO ICTRP (38)
Duplicates removed402
Records excluded at screening655
Reports not retrieved1
Reports excluded (reasons)Wrong comparator (25), Wrong study design (33), Conference abstract only (8)
Studies included7

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