Trends and levels of the global, regional, and national burden of vascular intestinal disorders between 1990 and 2021: Findings from the global burden of disease study 2021

Vascular Intestinal Disorder (VID) significantly impacts the global disease burden, with notable regional variations in incidence, prevalence, and Disability-Adjusted Life-Years (DALYs). While high-income countries have seen a decline in VID burden due to improved healthcare, lower-income regions continue to face rising VID rates. Understanding these trends is essential for developing effective health policies and interventions. This study aimed to analyze the global trends in VID incidence, prevalence, and DALYs from 1990 to 2021. We utilized data from the global burden of disease study to calculate age-standardized rates for incidence, prevalence, and DALYs of VID from 1990 to 2021. Joinpoint regression analysis was performed to assess trend changes over time. An age-period-cohort analysis explored the impact of age, period, and birth cohort on VID burden. Decomposition, inequality, and frontier analyses were conducted to investigate the contributions of aging, population growth, and epidemiological changes to the VID burden. Overall, the global trends of VID incidence, prevalence, and DALYs showed a decline over the past 3 decades. However, regional disparities were evident. High and upper-middle socio-demographic index (SDI) regions saw significant declines in both incidence and prevalence, while low and lower-middle SDI regions experienced increases. DALYs showed a decreasing trend in most regions, though certain areas, including Central Asia and Eastern Europe, demonstrated increases. The age-period-cohort analysis revealed that age is a significant determinant of VID burden, with incidence, prevalence, and DALYs increasing with age. Population growth and aging were found to be the main drivers of increased VID burden, while epidemiological changes contributed to a global reduction in VID burden. Inequality analysis showed persistent disparities, with low-SDI regions bearing a disproportionate share of the VID burden. Policymakers must focus on addressing health inequalities and ensuring equitable distribution of global health interventions. Future research should investigate the specific causes and subtypes of VID, and improve global health data monitoring to better predict and manage shifts in disease burden.