Systematic review on noncommunicable diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic: Latin American public policies

Damian S.U.; Arteaga Pinazo J.R.; Flores Masias E.J. · Revista de Salud Publica (2025) · DOI: 10.15446/rsap.v27n4.114217

Resumen

Objective To analyze publications on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and public policies implemented in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A systematic review was conducted following Prisma 2020 guidelines. Studies published between 2020 and 2025 were searched in PubMed, SciELO, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Research addressing public policies related to NCD risk factors in Latin American countries during the pandemic was included. Results Eleven studies from Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador were identified. Findings were grouped into five categories: nutritional labeling, fiscal taxes on harmful products, food security programs, physical activity, and active mobility. Four studies on nutritional labeling reported positive perceptions of warning labels, although their impact on reducing consumption of ultra-processed foods was limited. Three studies on taxes targeting tobacco and sugar-sweetened beverages showed partial reductions in consumption and increases in tax revenue, while alcohol consumption rose during the pandemic. One study on physical activity documented the abrupt interruption of community programs in 2020 and their subsequent recovery. Another study on active mobility in Bogotá highlighted the expansion of temporary bike lanes. Two Brazilian studies on food security reported adaptations of school and community programs to ensure access to healthy foods. Conclusions Public policies addressing NCDs in Latin America showed partial and heterogeneous progress during the pandemic. Evidence suggests that without strong governance, intersectoral coordination, and stable funding, even the most promising measures risk being diluted in the face of health and social crises. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. All contents of this journal, except where otherwise noted, are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal; Universidad César Vallejo