A Scoping Review of GIS Mapping of Type 1 Diabetes in Children: Identifying Current Gaps and Future Research Directions Using PRISMA-ScR

Abstract

Background: Type 1 Diabetes poses a significant public health threat, especially in low-and-middle countries, where resources are limited. The use of geographical information systems in diabetes research has shown the potential to reveal several epidemiological risk factors. <P> Aims: This scoping review aimed to identify the scope and extent of the current literature and explore its limitations on the geographical mapping of children with type 1 diabetes. Methods: A scoping review was conducted using five electronic databases and included studies published between the years 2000 and 2023. The search terms included: "Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus", "GIS mapping", "Juvenile Onset Diabetes Mellitus", "Spatial Epidemiology", "Spatial Clustering", "Spatial analysis", and "Geographic information system". Relevant full-text articles that met the inclusion criteria were selected for review. <P> Results: The search identified 17 studies that met the criteria for inclusion in the review. More than half the studies were conducted before 2015 (n=11; 61%). All studies were conducted in High-Income Countries. More than 10 articles studied environmental factors, 3 of them focused on the environment, 6 of them included sociodemographic factors, and 1 study incorporated nutrition (as a variable) in environmental factors. 2 studies focused on the accessibility of health services by pediatric patients. <P> Conclusion: Studies on type 1 diabetes highlight the complex relationship between incidence and risk, suggesting comprehensive prevention and treatment. Geographical mapping has potential in low- and middle-income nations, but further research is needed to develop innovative strategies. The importance of geomappping in understanding the risk factors for Type 1 Diabetes is highlighted in this scoping review, which also suggests a possible direction for focused interventions, particularly in settings with low resources.