Associations between IPV and non-communicable diseases: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Clinical Medicine
• Sociology

Background:

• Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a known risk factor for adverse physical health outcomes.
• The impact of IPV on the health trajectories of individuals with chronic diseases remains under-researched.
• This review focuses on the intersection of IPV and four major non-communicable diseases (NCDs): cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the existing literature on the influence of IPV on the burden, progression, or management of NCDs.
• To identify research gaps and inform the development of targeted IPV prevention and intervention strategies.
• To guide health equity policy responses for affected populations.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO, adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Included 39 studies focusing on adults with cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, or diabetes and experiences of adult IPV.
• Narrative synthesis of findings due to heterogeneity; Risk of Bias assessment using JBI Critical Appraisal Tools.

Main Results:

• Consistent positive associations found between IPV and adverse outcomes across all four NCDs.
• Cancer was the most studied NCD (19 publications), with a focus on breast and gynecological cancers.
• Limited research exists for other NCDs, indicating significant gaps in scholarly attention. Most studies (94.9%) had a low risk of bias, with concerns primarily regarding IPV measurement tools.

Conclusions:

• A growing body of evidence links IPV to worsened outcomes for individuals living with NCDs.
• Future research should prioritize developing and implementing IPV screening tools for NCD populations.
• Standardized IPV definitions, measurement strategies, and longitudinal designs are crucial for advancing understanding of causal pathways and long-term impacts.