Non-Communicable Diseases Among Forcibly Displaced People: A Systematic Mapping Review

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) pose a serious global health challenge, accounting for 74% of all deaths worldwide, with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) disproportionately affected. These challenges are further exacerbated in humanitarian settings, particularly among forcibly displaced people (FDP). Despite the critical need for NCD management in these populations, their epidemiology remains poorly understood. This highlights an urgent research priority to address knowledge gaps and improve their health outcomes.

In this research, we conducted a systematic mapping review to aggregate and categorize existing publications on NCDs among FDP. Literature searches were performed across five electronic databases, namely PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Global Index Medicus, and Google Scholar, using predefined criteria related to target populations, research domains, and study design. The evidence was systematically coded and analyzed to assess the current research status on NCDs among FDP.

A total of 310 publications were included in the review. The findings indicate an increasing trend in publications on NCDs among FDP since 2014. In contrast, most studies revealed low evidence levels. Disease-specific research primarily focused on diabetes mellitus (DM) (26.4%) and hypertension (19.8%), addressing health status (43.1%) and health policy (32.0%). Studies mainly concentrated on Syrian (45.5%) and Palestinian (18.9%) refugees, with limited research on other countries and types of FDP. Funding sources were mostly governmental (23.1%) and philanthropic foundations (17.6%), although many studies were unfunded (26.2%).

This is the first systematic mapping review on NCDs among FDP. The findings revealed both current knowledge areas of focus and gaps. Although the research quantity has increased, the evidence quality remains low. The retrieved studies predominantly focused on DM and hypertension among Syrian and Palestinian refugees, causing significant knowledge gaps regarding other geographical areas and types of FDP. Future research should prioritize higher-quality studies, expand the geographical scope, and include diverse types of FDP.