Worldwide prevalence and disability from preterm-associated developmental intellectual disability during childhood...

To comprehensively assess the prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs) of preterm-associated developmental intellectual disability (PDID) in children and adolescents born preterm (CABP) from 1990 to 2021.

Using data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021, the burden of PDID in CABP (0-19 years) at global, regional and national levels was assessed by joinpoint regression, age-period-cohort (A-P-C) analysis, and cross-country health inequality analysis.

Globally, there were 12,114,153 prevalent cases and 915,937 YLDs of PDID in CABP in 2021, with much higher values in males than in females. Moreover, the prevalent cases and YLDs demonstrated significant increasing trends, whereas only the age-standardized rate of prevalence showed a slight decline from 1990 to 2021 worldwide, with a slight increase in the proportion of severe cases. The age subgroup analysis showed a significant reduction in the burden of PDID in children aged <5 years. The A-P-C analysis found that, in contrast to middle to high-sociodemographic index (SDI) regions, the risk of PDID was highest in children aged <5 years, and that period and cohort effects were unfavourable in low-SDI regions. The results of cross-country health inequality analysis showed that the burden of PDID in CABP was concentrated in low-SDI countries, while SDI-related inequalities generally decreased between 1990 and 2021.

Overall, the global burden of PDID in CABP has increased from 1990 to 2021, while the burden in children under 5 years of age has decreased globally. Despite reduced health inequalities, low-SDI regions still bear a significant burden.