Table 1 Roles of evidence mapping studies in shaping healthcare policies on a local and global level

• Providing a holistic perspective on CVD risk factors in a population stratified by age, gender, and dwelling place (urban or rural)

• Circumscribing CVD care continuum across diverse settings (community-based or multilevel healthcare)

• Ensuring targeted and nuanced care through each level of disease journey to improve patient outcomes

• Designing priority framework by global policy makers and act as guiding force for optimal resource utilization and distribution on a national level

• Ensuring preparedness in terms of policies and resource budgeting to tackle unprecedented health crisis based on at-risk patient pool

• Devising prioritization matrices for future epidemiological research efforts