Global and Regional Burden of Periodontal Disease in Adults (1990-2021)

Periodontitis is one of the most prevalent chronic inflammatory diseases globally, characterised by progressive destruction of tooth-supporting structures. It has significant implications for oral health and has been associated with systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and respiratory infections. Despite ongoing public health initiatives, periodontitis remains a substantial burden worldwide. This study aims to utilise the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2021 data to estimate the incidence and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of severe periodontitis from 1990 to 2021, providing updated epidemiological trends at global and regional levels.

Data on the incidence, prevalence and DALY rates of severe periodontitis among adults from 1990 to 2021 were extracted from GBD 2021. The Estimated Annual Percent Change (EAPC) was applied to assess trends in the burden of severe periodontitis over the past 3 decades. Besides, Joinpoint analysis was used to evaluate the temporal changes in the global burden of severe periodontitis.

From 1990 to 2021, global DALY and incidence rates of severe periodontitis among adults exhibited a slight increase. The estimated number of global incident cases of severe periodontitis increased significantly, from 50,823,934 cases (95% uncertainty intervals [UI] = 39,615,907-59,174,250) in 1990 to 89,613,533 cases (95% UI = 79,069,090-101,005,641) in 2021. The global EAPC for DALY and incidence rates were 0.077 (95% UI: -0.025 to 0.179) and 0.027 (95% UI: -0.042 to 0.096), respectively.

The global burden of severe periodontitis has steadily increased. To address this growing public health challenge, enhanced prevention, control and intervention strategies are critical. More emphasis on common risk factors, such as poor oral hygiene, smoking and diabetes, is essential for effectively preventing and managing severe periodontitis.