Abstract
Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have surpassed infectious diseases as the leading cause of disability and mortality globally. However, the burden of NCDs among children and adolescents in the Asia-Pacific region remains underexplored. This study evaluates changes in NCD burden among individuals aged 0–19 years in the Asia-Pacific region from 1990 to 2021.
Methods: Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) 2021 study, we estimated deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), years of life lost (YLLs), and years lived with disability (YLDs) with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). We analyzed changes in disease burden by age, sex, location, and socio-demographic index (SDI) between 1990 and 2021.
Results: In 2021, NCDs accounted for a YLD rate of 56488.99 (95% UI: 40849.26–75780.79) and a death rate of 356.45 (95% UI: 280.27–433.27) per 100,000 population among children and adolescents aged 0–19 years. Other NCDs were the leading cause of death (167.08 [95% UI: 116.63–216.90]), YLLs (14584.60 [95% UI: 10126.88–18,962.14]), and DALYs (20327.20 [95% UI: 14815.25–26238.15]) per 100,000, while mental disorders led in YLDs. Death rates were higher in males, but DALYs were higher in females. From 1990 to 2021, NCD death rates decreased by 44.63% (from 643.71 [95% UI: 508.48–758.86] to 356.45 [95% UI: 280.27–433.27]) and YLLs by 45.49%. However, mental disorder-related deaths, YLLs, and DALYs increased by 29.26%, 29.16%, and 10.07%, respectively. Lower SDI countries reported higher NCD burdens, particularly for other NCDs.
Conclusions: While the NCD burden among children and adolescents in the Asia-Pacific region decreased significantly from 1990 to 2021, the rising burden of mental disorders is a critical public health concern.