Noncommunicable diseases associated with household air pollution from biomass fuel in South-East Asia region: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

Introduction: The WHO states that around 2.6 billion people still cook using solid fuels (such as wood, crop wastes, charcoal, coal, and dung) and kerosene in open fires and inefficient stoves. Evidence suggests that exposure to indoor air pollution by biomass fuel cooking is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, hypertension, depression, breast cancer, and cataract. This systematic review aims at providing evidence-based insight into indoor air pollution by comprehensively assessing the association of major noncommunicable diseases with the household air pollution from biomass solid fuel. Methods and Analysis: We will undertake a systematic search in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, OVID, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in the Cochrane Library from January 2000 to April 2022. The study designs to be included will be cross-sectional, case-control, cohort, and randomized controlled trials. Subgroup analyses will be performed, and sensitivity analyses will be conducted to assess the robustness of the findings. Ethics and Dissemination: No ethical issues are foreseen. Dissemination will be done by submitting scientific articles to academic peer-reviewed journals. We will present the results at relevant conferences and meetings. Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Conclusion: This systematic review will collate empirical evidence to assess the association of NCDs with the household air pollution from biomass fuel. Prospero Registration: CRD42022356857.