Social inequalities play an important role in shaping the burden of non-communicable diseases across Europe. People’s education, income, employment, living and working conditions and access to resources can influence both their exposure to NCD risk factors and their health outcomes. This JA PreventNCD study protocol sets out a scoping review designed to examine how national and supranational policies can help reduce these inequalities.
The review will map and summarise evidence on the impact and effectiveness of policies addressing inequalities in cancer, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as well as related behavioural, metabolic, environmental, social and commercial determinants of health. It will consider policies implemented across sectors and at different levels of prevention, including universal approaches and policies targeted towards populations experiencing greater disadvantage.
By examining which policies have been evaluated, how they work and what impact they have had on health inequalities, the review aims to identify effective approaches as well as gaps in the existing evidence. The findings will contribute to JA PreventNCD recommendations for policymakers and support the development of more equitable approaches to NCD prevention across Europe.
Read the full paper in BMJ Open:
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-900939