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Defining and measuring multiple long-term conditions in research during infancy and childhood. A scoping review protocol.

O'Leary F, Conway DI, Nicholl BI, Cannon P, Sherriff A · 5 Aug 2026

Abstract

Objective: To strengthen our understanding of how multiple long-term conditions experienced during infancy and childhood are defined and measured in published research. Introduction Multiple long-term conditions, known synonymously as multimorbidity, can be experienced across all ages and are not just a feature of ageing. Despite early years growth and development being known to influence the health trajectories of individuals into adulthood, children, particularly in the early years, are often overlooked in this international field of research. Is it also unclear whether the current definitions or measures of multiple long-term conditions are applicable for children before adolescence. This review will serve to conceptualise the definitions of multiple-long term conditions prior to adolescence, synthesise how they are being operationalised and help shape future research approaches. Inclusion criteria Studies will only be included if they report on two or more co-existing mental and/or physical long-term conditions on infants, aged from birth (up to the first year of life) and/or children across the period of childhood (aged 1 to approximately 9 years old). Studies that only include participants during the period of adolescence (aged approximately 10 to 19 years old) and/or adulthood (aged 18 years old and older) will be excluded. Methods A scoping review is proposed and will follow Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology supplemented by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. An extensive search strategy within the following databases will be conducted: (1) MEDLINE; (2) EMBASE; (3) PsycINFO; (4) Scopus; (5) CINAHL (6) Web of Science (7) Global Health and (8) grey literature, using combinations of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), Boolean and Emtree terms. Studies will be screened through the software, Covidence. When the inclusion criteria are met, data will be extracted and summarised to answer the proposed research questions.