What works to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in hospitalisations and readmissions? Systematic review of the equity impacts of population-level, health service and integrative interventions.

ABSTRACT: Inequalities exist in hospitalisation rates, which are undesirable and costly for health systems; with higher rates in populations with lower levels of income, education or residing in socioeconomically marginalised neighbourhoods where ill-health is more prevalent and preventive care is more limited.

Objectives

To understand which interventions reduce, maintain or increase socioeconomic inequalities in hospitalisations or readmissions to aid efforts of policymakers and practitioners working to improve health equity and reduce hospital pressures.

Design

Systematic review.

Eligibility criteria

Intervention studies in any Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) country, involving individuals of any age, published in any language which reported the d

SUBMITTER: Sowden S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12458884 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature