HbA1c reduction and weight-loss outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of community-based intervention trials among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Managing blood glucose and maintaining weight could prevent the risk of diabetes complications and maintain of T2DM. The study aimed to provide the systematic review and meta-analysis to test the effect of community-based interventions on HbA1c reduction and weight loss after receiving the community-based intervention and to determine any gaps in the literature and set up the recommendations for future intervention. Two databases PubMed and Medline were included to extract the relevant articles. Type 2 diabetes (T2D), Community-Based Intervention, glycemic control, and weight reduction were used as the keywords. Appraisal of systematic review was based on PRISMA format. Out of 475 publications identified, 12 studies that fulfilled inclusion criteria which characterized by predominantly measure HbA1c and weight were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, the community-based intervention decreased the HbA1c levels by -0.25% (-0.33, 0.16) and (Z=-582, p=0.00) and weight loss (Z=-5.110, p=0.00). The community-based intervention positively decreased the HbA1c level. Our findings could guide the significance of community-based interventions for T2DM patients in the future.