Article type
Abstract
Introduction
The health impacts of climate change can result directly or indirectly from climate change–related hazards (eg, extreme heat); climate change–related health risks (eg, vector-borne diseases); and the solutions taken to mitigate, adapt, or respond to climate change. However, these impacts are, and will increasingly be, felt differentially across population groups and places. In this context, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is conducting a mapping review on the health equity impacts of climate change in the UK to identify what evidence is already available and where the evidence gaps are, with the aim to guide areas for future action, engagement, and research.
Methods
A mapping review is being conducted according to the PRISMA-ScR checklist and following streamlined methodologies to accelerate the review process. A literature search was conducted, including Medline, Embase, the FAIR databases, as well as an extensive gray literature search of 11 sources, to identify UK primary studies published since 1 January 2010. A protocol was published before the review started (https://osf.io/hnyas).
The review focuses on populations included in the Core20PLUS framework for whom limited review-level evidence was identified in an initial scoping exercise (including people experiencing the greatest deprivation, ethnic minorities, and inclusion health groups, such as people experiencing homelessness). An interactive evidence gap map is being developed using EPPI-R to visualize the evidence across Core20PLUS groups and climate change exposure pathways by the type of health outcomes assessed in each study.
Results
Searches were conducted on 18 July 2023, and, after deduplication, 15,325 database records were screened on title/abstract, and 244 were screened on full text. An additional 2374 gray literature and citation analysis references were screened on title/abstract, and 108 were screened on full text. In total, 22 studies were included and mapped onto the interactive evidence gap map, highlighting several evidence gaps. The database search was updated on 19 February 2024, with screening underway. The evidence gap map will be updated if relevant studies are identified.
Implications for practice
The evidence gaps identified by our review are being used to identify research and strategic priorities for the Centre for Climate Change and Health Security at UKHSA.
The health impacts of climate change can result directly or indirectly from climate change–related hazards (eg, extreme heat); climate change–related health risks (eg, vector-borne diseases); and the solutions taken to mitigate, adapt, or respond to climate change. However, these impacts are, and will increasingly be, felt differentially across population groups and places. In this context, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is conducting a mapping review on the health equity impacts of climate change in the UK to identify what evidence is already available and where the evidence gaps are, with the aim to guide areas for future action, engagement, and research.
Methods
A mapping review is being conducted according to the PRISMA-ScR checklist and following streamlined methodologies to accelerate the review process. A literature search was conducted, including Medline, Embase, the FAIR databases, as well as an extensive gray literature search of 11 sources, to identify UK primary studies published since 1 January 2010. A protocol was published before the review started (https://osf.io/hnyas).
The review focuses on populations included in the Core20PLUS framework for whom limited review-level evidence was identified in an initial scoping exercise (including people experiencing the greatest deprivation, ethnic minorities, and inclusion health groups, such as people experiencing homelessness). An interactive evidence gap map is being developed using EPPI-R to visualize the evidence across Core20PLUS groups and climate change exposure pathways by the type of health outcomes assessed in each study.
Results
Searches were conducted on 18 July 2023, and, after deduplication, 15,325 database records were screened on title/abstract, and 244 were screened on full text. An additional 2374 gray literature and citation analysis references were screened on title/abstract, and 108 were screened on full text. In total, 22 studies were included and mapped onto the interactive evidence gap map, highlighting several evidence gaps. The database search was updated on 19 February 2024, with screening underway. The evidence gap map will be updated if relevant studies are identified.
Implications for practice
The evidence gaps identified by our review are being used to identify research and strategic priorities for the Centre for Climate Change and Health Security at UKHSA.