Trends and Inequities in the Burden of Depressive Disorders Among Adolescents and Young Adults in the Western Pacific, 1990–2021: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study, 2021

Despite growing concern, there is limited comprehensive and up-to-date research on the burden, disparities, and inequalities of depressive disorders in the Western Pacific region. We obtained data from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD; 2021) for the Western Pacific region. We reported the prevalence and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates of depressive disorders from 1990 to 2021. Our results showed that the prevalence of depressive disorders in the Western Pacific region was 1723.1 per 100,000 people (95% UI: 1359.2–2164.9), contributing to 1057.3 DALYs per 100,000 (95% UI: 683.0–1551.8). From 1990 to 2021, the burden of depressive disorders initially decreased but then increased, with Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea seeing the most significant rise. The burden grew with age, especially in the 10–14 age group, and exhibited significant sex disparities, especially in this age group. Among 31 countries, those with higher UHC scored had higher prevalence rates, but the gap between high- and low-UHC countries has decreased over time, indicating that countries with lower UHC might face greater challenges in the future. Our results highlight the differences in burden by sex and age call for targeted policies and interventions to promote youth mental health. Accelerating universal health coverage could be a key strategy to further reduce this high burden.