Global, regional, and national burden of clavicle, scapula, or humerus fracture in 204 countries and territories, 1990 to 2021: A systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Clavicle, scapula, or humerus fracture represent a major public health challenge, yet their epidemiology and health burden remain poorly characterized. Using the Global Burden of Disease 2021 framework, we quantified incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability (YLDs) of clavicle, scapula, or humerus fractures across 204 countries from 1990 to 2021. Estimates were stratified by age, sex, region, and socio-demographic index (SDI), and reported with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) from Bayesian models. Globally, the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) declined from 276.68 (95% UI: 219.06-346.71) per 100,000 person-years in 1990 to 220.94 (95% UI: 172.60-280.99) per 100,000 person-years in 2021, with an estimated annual percentage change of -0.78% (95% UI: -0.82% to -0.73%). High SDI regions showed the greatest ASIR (300.30 per 100,000 person-years), age-standardized prevalence rate (112.03 per 100,000 person-years), and age-standardized YLDs rate (3.72 per 100,000 person-years). In 2021, Eastern Europe had the highest ASIR (465.06 per 100,000 person-years), while Australasia led in age-standardized prevalence rate (151.42 per 100,000 person-years) and age-standardized YLDs rate (5.04 per 100,000 person-years). China ranked first in absolute prevalence (1.21 million, 95% UI: 1.04-1.39 million) and YLDs (40,235, 95% UI: 24,471-61,196). Despite declines in age-standardized rates, absolute cases increased substantially, highlighting demographic and regional disparities. Priority populations for targeted prevention include women aged ≥60 years and residents of high-SDI regions, as these strata accounted for the highest burden across incidence/prevalence/YLD rates.