S3075 Burden of Vascular Intestinal Disorders in the European Union From 1990-2021: A Growing Concern in an Aging Demographic

Introduction: Vascular intestinal disorders (VID), primarily comprising acute and chronic mesenteric ischemia, represent a rare but high-mortality gastrointestinal condition caused by compromised intestinal blood flow. Their incidence increases markedly with age due to vascular degeneration, thromboembolic risk, and delayed symptom recognition. The European Union (EU), home to one of the world’s oldest populations, faces mounting pressure from aging-related morbidities. Yet, despite advances in diagnostic and vascular care, little is known about the long-term epidemiology of VID across EU member states. Methods: A comprehensive epidemiological assessment was conducted using the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study framework, encompassing all 27 EU member states over the period 1990–2021. We analyzed age-standardized rates of incidence, years lived with disability (YLDs), disability adjusted life years (DALYs) and mortality attributable to VID stratified by age, sex, year and location. Temporal trends were quantified by calculating annualized percentage change (APC) for each metric across countries. Results: Between 1990-2021, the total number of VID cases increased from 21,785 (95% UI: 20,174–23,649) to 39,000 (36,489–41,381), while deaths rose modestly from 19,406 (17,739–20,362) to 21,841 (18,555–23,482). The overall burden, measured in DALYs, increased from 327,617 (307,376–341,307) to 336,129 (298,613–356,420). Age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) increased from 3.71 (3.40–4.06) to 4.26 (3.93–4.59) per 100,000, and YLDs rate (ASYLDR) rose from 1.08 (0.74–1.45) to 1.23 (0.84–1.68). Conversely, age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) declined from 3.21 (2.92–3.38) to 1.89 (1.64–2.02) per 100,000. By age group, individuals aged 55 and above experienced the most notable increases in both prevalence APC: 0.92% and YLDs APC: 0.89%, while the 20–54 age group showed smaller rises of 0.23% for both measures. Gender-wise, females exhibited a higher relative increase in burden compared to males. ASPR rose more significantly among females (0.19% vs 0.09%), as did ASYLDR (0.18% vs 0.08%), while ASMR declined slightly more in females (–0.38%) compared to males (–0.40%). Conclusion: The burden of VID in the EU has increased notably in terms of prevalence and disability, particularly among older adults and females, despite a significant decline in mortality rates. These trends highlight a shifting disease profile toward chronicity and underscore the need for improved long-term management strategies in aging populations.