Sanitas
Revista arbitrada de ciencias de la salud
Vol. 4(1), 1-9, 2025
https://doi.org/10.62574/m0sj8697
1
Community-based interventions for chronic disease prevention. Systematic
review
Intervenciones basadas en la comunidad para la prevención de
enfermedades crónicas. Revisión sistemática
Jonathan Alexander González-Cano
jgonzalezc@unemi.edu.ec
State University of Milagro, Milagro, Guayas, Ecuador
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3420-6109
ABSTRACT
Objective: analyze community-based interventions for the prevention of chronic diseases. Method:
PRISMA systematic review. Thirty articles were processed as the final population, located in
databases such as: Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science. Results and conclusion: Community
interventions represent a fundamental public health strategy for the prevention and management of
chronic and communicable diseases, by promoting healthy lifestyles and reducing risk factors.
Comprehensive programs involving schools, families and communities have proven effective in
preventing childhood obesity, while culturally adapted strategies and the use of technologies have
optimized the control of diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Likewise, community health
workers play a strategic role in strengthening the link between communities and health systems,
promoting adherence to services and active participation.
Descriptors: chronic disease; disease susceptibility; asymptomatic diseases (Source, DeCS).
RESUMEN
Objetivo: analizar intervenciones basadas en la comunidad para la prevención de enfermedades
crónicas. Método: Revisión sistemática PRISMA. Se procesaron 30 articulos como población final,
ubicados en base de datos como: Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science. Resultados y conclusión:
Las intervenciones comunitarias representan una estrategia fundamental en salud pública para la
prevención y manejo de enfermedades crónicas y transmisibles, al fomentar estilos de vida
saludables y reducir factores de riesgo. Programas integrales que involucran escuelas, familias y
comunidades han demostrado efectividad en la prevención de la obesidad infantil, mientras que las
estrategias culturalmente adaptadas y el uso de tecnologías han optimizado el control de
enfermedades como la diabetes y la hipertensión. Asimismo, los trabajadores comunitarios de salud
desempeñan un rol estratégico al fortalecer el vínculo entre las comunidades y los sistemas de salud,
promoviendo la adherencia a los servicios y la participación activa.
Descriptores: enfermedad crónica; susceptibilidad a enfermedades;
enfermedades asintomáticas. (Fuente, DeCS).
Received: 02/11/2024. Revised: 20/11/2024. Approved: 12/21/2024. Published: 02/17/2025.
Original article
Sanitas
Revista arbitrada de ciencias de la salud
Vol. 4(1), 1-9, 2025
Intervenciones basadas en la comunidad para la prevención de enfermedades crónicas. Revisión
sistemática
Community-based interventions for the prevention of chronic diseases
Jonathan Alexander González-Cano
2
INTRODUCTION
Chronic diseases represent one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality
worldwide, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable populations. These
conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases,
are closely related to modifiable risk factors, such as sedentary lifestyles, poor diet
and smoking (7). In this context, community-based interventions have emerged as
a strategy to address these factors by promoting changes in health behavior and
improving access to preventive services (28).
On the other hand, the implementation of community exercise programs, such as
those described by Butler et al. (22), has shown significant benefits in improving the
quality of life of patients with chronic diseases, such as chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD). Likewise, the review by Cotonieto-Martínez and
Rodríguez-Terán (7) presents the importance of integrating community interventions
with primary care, which allows a more holistic approach focused on the needs of
the population. It is important to deepen community education for disease prevention
and control (9) (29).
The objective is to analyze community-based interventions for the prevention of
chronic diseases.
METHOD
Systematic review PRISMA
Thirty articles were processed as final population, located in databases such as:
Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science.
A search strategy based on MeSH terms and keywords, such as "community
interventions", "chronic disease prevention", "community health workers", "health
Sanitas
Revista arbitrada de ciencias de la salud
Vol. 4(1), 1-9, 2025
Intervenciones basadas en la comunidad para la prevención de enfermedades crónicas. Revisión
sistemática
Community-based interventions for the prevention of chronic diseases
Jonathan Alexander González-Cano
3
promotion", "diabetes", "hypertension", "obesity", "COPD" and "physical activity" was
used.
We included studies that evaluated community interventions aimed at the prevention
and management of chronic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension,
cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, published between 2008 and 2024.
The studies had to be randomized clinical trials, observational studies or systematic
reviews that reported quantitative or qualitative results related to changes in risk
factors, adherence to treatment, improvement in quality of life or access to
preventive services.
Opinion articles, narrative reviews, studies without access to the full text and those
that did not address community interventions were excluded.
RESULTS
In the field of childhood obesity prevention, studies such as Strugnell et al. (1) and
Waters et al. (2) have shown that community-based programs that integrate schools
and families can significantly reduce obesity rates in children and adolescents.
These interventions, by incorporating a systems thinking and health promotion
approach, achieve sustainable changes in eating habits and physical activity levels.
On the other hand, Ferrari et al. (15) comment that physical activity patterns and
sedentary lifestyles are influenced by sociodemographic factors, which indicates the
importance of adapting interventions to the specific characteristics of each
community.
In the management of chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes,
culturally adapted interventions led by community health workers have shown
favorable results, in this sense, Nguyen et al. (3), highlighted the effectiveness of
cultural narratives to improve hypertension control, while Lin et al. (12) and Feng et
Sanitas
Revista arbitrada de ciencias de la salud
Vol. 4(1), 1-9, 2025
Intervenciones basadas en la comunidad para la prevención de enfermedades crónicas. Revisión
sistemática
Community-based interventions for the prevention of chronic diseases
Jonathan Alexander González-Cano
4
al. (14) demonstrated that health coaching and the use of technologies such as
mobile applications can improve glycemic control and lifestyles in patients with
diabetes. Cisneros-Zumba et al. (16) and Placencia López et al. (17) validated the
importance of health education to prevent diabetes in vulnerable populations,
especially in older adults and rural communities.
In the case of chronic respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD), community-based exercise programs have been effective in
improving quality of life and reducing costs associated with disease management
(21, 22). While Yuan et al. (24) and Chen et al. (30) state that interventions based
on traditional exercises, such as Baduanjin, or integrated programs in rural areas
can significantly improve the functionality and health status of patients. Likewise, the
work of Zuo et al. (20) demonstrated that innovative therapies, such as expressive
art therapy, can have a positive impact on the health of COPD patients.
The role of community health workers is fundamental in these interventions, since
they act as links between the health systems and the communities. Coker et al. (5)
and Chang et al. (8) state how their participation improves adherence to health
services and encourages the active participation of communities in their own care.
In addition, Gore et al. (10) also emphasize that the integration of these workers in
primary care can be fundamental for the prevention of diseases such as diabetes,
especially in low-income populations.
In the context of cardiovascular diseases, He et al. (6) and Vallejo-Valdivieso et al.
(25) comment on the effectiveness of community interventions for the control of risk
factors, such as hypertension and obesity, in vulnerable populations. These
strategies have also been useful in the prevention of post-surgical complications, as
demonstrated by Berkel et al. (13) in patients undergoing colorectal surgery.
Sanitas
Revista arbitrada de ciencias de la salud
Vol. 4(1), 1-9, 2025
Intervenciones basadas en la comunidad para la prevención de enfermedades crónicas. Revisión
sistemática
Community-based interventions for the prevention of chronic diseases
Jonathan Alexander González-Cano
5
On the other hand, in the management of communicable diseases, Tao et al. (4) and
Intriago-Guillén et al. (26) show that community interventions can improve
knowledge and preventive behaviors against diseases such as influenza and vector-
borne diseases; these strategies are especially relevant in highly vulnerable
contexts, where access to health services is limited.
Regarding the promotion of physical activity, Moore et al. (27) and Pedley et al. (23)
note that community programs can increase physical activity levels and reduce
sedentary time, which contributes to the prevention of chronic diseases such as
diabetes and obesity. Likewise, Jinnouchi et al. (18), demonstrated that brief
exercise education can be effective for the management of chronic low back pain,
while Cushman et al. (19) highlight the importance of integrating hybrid approaches
to address diseases such as asthma.
Consequently, studies such as Dambha-Miller et al. (11) and Herrera-Valdés et al.
(29), argue that the relationship between behavior change, weight loss and
remission of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease,
which projects the need for community interventions that promote healthy lifestyles
and reduce associated risk factors.
CONCLUSION
Community interventions represent a fundamental public health strategy for the
prevention and management of chronic and communicable diseases by promoting
healthy lifestyles and reducing risk factors. Comprehensive programs involving
schools, families and communities have proven effective in preventing childhood
obesity, while culturally adapted strategies and the use of technologies have
optimized the control of diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Likewise,
community health workers play a strategic role in strengthening the link between
communities and health systems, promoting adherence to services and active
Sanitas
Revista arbitrada de ciencias de la salud
Vol. 4(1), 1-9, 2025
Intervenciones basadas en la comunidad para la prevención de enfermedades crónicas. Revisión
sistemática
Community-based interventions for the prevention of chronic diseases
Jonathan Alexander González-Cano
6
participation. Therefore, the promotion of physical activity, health education and
community exercise programs are essential pillars for improving quality of life and
reducing health inequities, especially in vulnerable populations.
FINANCING
Non-monetary
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
There is no conflict of interest with persons or institutions related to research.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To the State University of Milagro, Milagro, Guayas, Ecuador.
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Revista arbitrada de ciencias de la salud
Vol. 4(1), 1-9, 2025
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Intervenciones basadas en la comunidad para la prevención de enfermedades crónicas. Revisión
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