Economic Inequality: Systematic Review with ☸️SAIMSARA.



DOI: 10.62487/saimsarad3689887

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Review Stats
Identification of studies via EPMC (titles/abstracts) Identification Screening Included Records identified:n=6223Records excluded:n=0 Records assessed for eligibilityn=6223Records excluded:n=1965 Studies included in reviewn=4258 PRISMA Diagram generated by ☸️ SAIMSARA
⛛OSMA Triangle Effect-of Predictor → Outcome Economic inequality  →  Outcome Beneficial for patients ΣN=365051 (3%) Harmful for patients ΣN=5018796 (37%) Neutral ΣN=8013951 (60%) 0 ⛛OSMA Triangle generated by ☸️SAIMSARA
Outcome-Sentiment Meta-Analysis (OSMA): (LLM-only)
Frame: Effect-of Predictor → Outcome • Source: Europe PMC
Outcome: Outcome Typical timepoints: 5-y, peri/post-op. Reported metrics: %, CI, p.
Common endpoints: Common endpoints: mortality, complications, admission.
Predictor: Economic inequality — exposure/predictor. Doses/units seen: 135 mg, 2500 g, 3500 g. Routes seen: oral, sc, iv, im. Typical comparator: global north countries, control, unaffected areas, dominant caste groups….




1) Introduction
Economic inequality is a multifaceted global challenge with profound implications across societal, psychological, environmental, and health domains. Recent research highlights its pervasive influence, ranging from individual behavioral responses and mental health outcomes to systemic issues like climate change action, public health disparities, and political stability. Understanding the intricate pathways through which economic inequality manifests and perpetuates adverse outcomes is crucial for developing effective interventions and fostering equitable development worldwide. This paper synthesizes current findings to delineate key impacts and identify critical areas for future research and policy.

2) Aim
This paper aims to systematically review the diverse impacts of economic inequality on individual well-being, societal dynamics, environmental sustainability, and public health, and to identify critical research gaps and policy implications based on recent empirical evidence.

3) Methods
Systematic review with multilayer AI research agent: keyword normalization, retrieval & structuring, and paper synthesis (see SAIMSARA About section for details).


4) Results
4.1 Study characteristics
The included studies comprised a variety of designs, predominantly mixed methods (e.g., [3, 4, 5, 10, 11]), cohort studies (e.g., [1, 6, 13, 153]), and cross-sectional analyses (e.g., [2, 8, 15, 18]). Experimental designs were also present (e.g., [5, 62, 66]). Populations studied were diverse, spanning global contexts (e.g., 79 countries [3], 72 countries [6], 153 countries [163]), specific nations (e.g., China [11, 13, 146], U.S. [8, 25], India [15, 23]), and particular demographic groups (e.g., Australian school-aged children [4], Chinese women [16], elderly individuals [44, 77]). Follow-up periods, when reported, ranged from short-term (e.g., 2023 [4]) to multi-year (e.g., 2002–2022 [3], 2005–2020 [11], 2001–2015 [13]).

4.2 Main numerical result aligned to the query
No single comparable numerical metric for economic inequality itself (e.g., Gini coefficient change) was consistently reported across multiple studies in a way that would allow for a meaningful central value calculation. However, several studies quantified the impact of economic inequality. For instance, economic inequality was associated with a 22% increase in the relative risk of child mortality in urban areas [47]. In specific health outcomes, up to 45% of under-five deaths in high-burden African countries were attributable to economic inequality [22], and eliminating within-country inequality could have avoided over 500,000 cases of acute respiratory infection (ARI) in low- and middle-income countries in 2019 [88]. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in elderly individuals was 51.2% (95% CI: 47.7 to 54.8), with higher economic status acting as a protective factor [44].

4.3 Topic synthesis


5) Discussion
5.1 Principal finding
A synthesis of current research indicates that economic inequality is a pervasive determinant of adverse outcomes across diverse domains, including individual well-being, public health, environmental sustainability, and societal stability. For instance, economic inequality was associated with a 22% increase in the relative risk of child mortality in urban areas [47].

5.2 Clinical implications


5.3 Research implications / key gaps


5.4 Limitations


5.5 Future directions


6) Conclusion
A synthesis of current research indicates that economic inequality is a pervasive determinant of adverse outcomes across diverse domains, including individual well-being, public health, environmental sustainability, and societal stability. For instance, economic inequality was associated with a 22% increase in the relative risk of child mortality in urban areas [47]. This widespread impact underscores that economic inequality is not merely an economic issue but a fundamental driver of disparities affecting populations globally, from individual mental health to systemic climate action. The primary limitation affecting certainty is the prevalence of cross-sectional designs, which often preclude strong causal inferences. To address this, a concrete next step is to conduct longitudinal cohort studies that track the long-term effects of economic inequality and evaluate the efficacy of targeted policy interventions across diverse populations.

References
SAIMSARA Session Index — session.json

Figure 1. Publication-year distribution of included originals
Figure 1. Publication-year distribution of included originals

Figure 2. Study-design distribution of included originals
Figure 2. Study-design distribution

Figure 3. Study-type (directionality) distribution of included originals
Figure 3. Directionality distribution

Figure 4. Main extracted research topics
Figure 4. Main extracted research topics (Results)

Figure 5. Limitations of current studies (topics)
Figure 5. Limitations of current studies (topics)

Figure 6. Future research directions (topics)
Figure 6. Future research directions (topics)