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

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with a range of adverse physical health outcomes; however, its specific influence on the health trajectories of individuals living with chronic disease remains underexplored. This systematic review investigates the intersection of IPV and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with a focus on four leading conditions: cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes. Advancing understanding in this area is essential for informing the development of targeted IPV prevention and intervention strategies, improving clinical care for affected populations, and shaping health equity policy responses.

Guided by the research question, "How does experiencing IPV influence the burden, progression, or management of non-communicable diseases among adults diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, or diabetes?", the review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO, yielding 39 eligible studies. Included studies focused on adults diagnosed with at least one of the four target NCDs, experiences of IPV occurring in adulthood, and assessed outcomes related to disease burden, progression, or healthcare management. Findings were synthesized narratively due to heterogeneity in study designs, populations, and IPV measurement. A Risk of Bias assessment was completed using JBI Critical Appraisal Tools.

The review identified consistent positive associations between IPV and adverse outcomes across cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic respiratory disease, based on findings from 39 studies. Cancer emerged as the most frequently studied condition, with 19 publications, of which 14 focused specifically on breast or gynecological cancers. In contrast, research on the other NCDs was more limited, revealing an uneven distribution of scholarly attention and underscoring important gaps for future investigation. Risk of bias appraisal showed that 94.9% (n = 37) of studies had a low risk of bias, while 5.1% (n = 2) were rated as having moderate risk. Across study designs, the most frequent methodological concern was related to the reliability and validity of IPV survey instruments.

This review highlights a growing body of evidence linking IPV with worsened outcomes for individuals living with NCDs. To advance the field, future research should prioritize the development and implementation of IPV screening tools tailored to NCD populations, adopt standardized IPV definitions and measurement strategies, and expand the use of longitudinal designs to better understand causal pathways and long-term health impacts.