Community health worker-led interventions for cardio-metabolic diseases in India: Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis.
S, M., P, V., K, S., & R, P. (2026). Community health worker-led interventions for cardio-metabolic diseases in India: Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis.. The Indian journal of medical research. https://doi.org/10.25259/IJMR_3058_2025
S M, P V, K S, R P. Community health worker-led interventions for cardio-metabolic diseases in India: Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis.. The Indian journal of medical research. 2026; doi: 10.25259/IJMR_3058_2025
S M, P V, K S, et al. Community health worker-led interventions for cardio-metabolic diseases in India: Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis.[J]. The Indian journal of medical research. 2026. DOI: 10.25259/IJMR_3058_2025.
@article{s2026,
author = {Mandal S and Virdi P and Singh K and Pathak R},
title = {Community health worker-led interventions for cardio-metabolic diseases in India: Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis.},
journal = {The Indian journal of medical research},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.25259/IJMR_3058_2025},
note = {PMID: 42555695},
}
TY - JOUR AU - Mandal S AU - Virdi P AU - Singh K AU - Pathak R TI - Community health worker-led interventions for cardio-metabolic diseases in India: Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis. T2 - The Indian journal of medical research PY - 2026 DO - 10.25259/IJMR_3058_2025 AN - PMID:42555695 ER -
Background and objectives Cardio-metabolic diseases are leading cause of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in India. Community health workers' (CHW) local proximity and contextual understanding enable low-cost, and sustainable health interventions. This systematic review and meta-analysis of interventional studies aimed to identify types of CHW-led interventions and their effect on cardio-metabolic diseases. Methods Studies done in India (2000-2024) were searched from PubMed, Embase and Scopus databases. Screening of studies, followed by risk of bias assessment, data extraction was done and pooled mean difference (MD), 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated by the random effect model. Subgroup, sensitivity analysis, and meta-regression was performed along with certainty assessment using grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE). Results Thirteen studies (10 randomised trial and 3 pre-post studies) involving adults (mean age ranging from 45 to 65 yr) with hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and overweight were included in systematic review and 9 studies were included in meta-analysis. The CHW-led intervention significantly reduced systolic blood pressure (n=7,114; MD -5.5 mm Hg, 95% CI -9.0 to -1.9; P=0.041; I2=79.3%), with higher effect among people with hypertension (MD -7.5 mm Hg) and body mass index (MD -0.63 kg/m2; P=0.038) in intervention group. No significant change was observed in diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, glycated haemoglobin, and lipid profiles. Sensitivity analysis revealed no differential effect, and meta-regression showed no significant covariates. GRADE certainty of evidence was low to very low for outcome variables. Interpretation and conclusions CHW-led interventions in an Indian community setting showed beneficial effect on cardiometabolic outcomes, particularly blood pressure and body mass index, though the strength of evidence ranged from weak to moderate.