Implementation of Cardiovascular Risk Prediction Scores in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review Protocol

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction tools are widely recommended to guide primary prevention and clinical decision-making, yet their use in routine care across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains uneven and poorly characterised. Although a growing body of research has examined the development, validation, and potential effectiveness of CVD risk prediction approaches in SSA, evidence on the determinants that influence uptake, the strategies used to support implementation, and the outcomes achieved when these tools are introduced remains fragmented. This scoping review aims to map and synthesise the available literature on the implementation of CVD risk prediction tools in SSA, drawing on implementation science frameworks to examine reported implementation determinants, strategies, and outcomes across diverse settings, study designs, and tool modalities. By characterising the breadth and nature of existing implementation evidence, this review seeks to identify common patterns, gaps, and contextual considerations that shape the use of CVD risk prediction tools in SSA. The findings are intended to inform future implementation research and practice by clarifying what is known about how these tools are introduced and used in routine care, and where additional evidence is needed to support their effective and equitable implementation.