Global, regional, and national burden of syphilis, 1990–2021 and predictions by Bayesian age-period-cohort analysis: a systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 2021

Between 1990 and 2021, syphilis occurrence and prevalence increased consistently. Projections indicated a continual increase in syphilis incidence in children aged <5 years, and age-standardized prevalence rates were the highest in adults aged 25-34 years. Our results regarding the epidemiological trends of syphilis and its variations across regions, age groups, and sexes may aid policymakers in addressing the global impact of the disease effectively.