Comparison of bedside lung ultrasonography versus chest radiography for diagnosis of respiratory distress syndrome in preterm neonates: A systematic review and Diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis

1. Anticipated or actual start date. 1 February 2026 2. Anticipated completion date. 31 December 2026 3. Review question What is the diagnostic accuracy of lung ultrasonography, as compared to chest radiography, for the diagnosis of respiratory distress syndrome in preterm neonates? 4. Searches a) The key databases for search will include the Cochrane Library (present version), MEDLINE via PubMed (1966 to present), Embase (1974 to present), and Web of Science (1900 to present). b) Also, the reference lists of the included studies will be explored for backward citation search. c) No language restrictions will be applied while searching. d) Studies reported only as abstracts will be eligible if sufficient information is available from the report or contact with the authors to fulfil the inclusion criteria. e) We will also search the cross-references in relevant narrative or systematic reviews for additional studies. 6. Condition or domain being studied. Respiratory distress syndrome(RDS) Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome is a disease of the lung that primarily affects preterm neonates, secondary to surfactant deficiency. Surfactant is a lipid-protein substance produced by type II alveolar cells that reduces surface tension, enabling alveoli to stay open and facilitating effective gas exchange. In preterm infants (especially those