Global, regional, and national burden of digestive congenital anomalies from 1990-2021

Digestive congenital anomalies (DCAs) are a major cause of neonatal death and disability, but comprehensive data on their global burden and regional disparities are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the global trends and burden of DCAs from 1990 to 2021.

Data from Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 were used to estimate annual prevalence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), age-standardized rates (ASPR, ASMR, ASDR) of DCAs. The average annual percent change (AAPC) was calculated and frontier analysis was conducted to evaluate the potential for burden reduction. Future trends were projected using statistical modeling.

Between 1990 and 2021, the global burden of DCAs decreased significantly, with reductions in mortality and DALYs. ASMRs declined from 1.19 (0.66, 1.85) to 0.77 (0.58, 0.96) per 100,000 (AAPC = -1.40), and ASDRs from 108.30 (60.88, 166.69) to 70.44 (53.14, 87.60) (AAPC = -1.38). The burden was highest in infants aged 0-6 days and in low-SDI regions, which have greater improvement potential. By 2036, prevalent cases will increase, but deaths and DALYs are expected to continue declining.

Despite progress in reducing the burden of DCAs, disparities persist, particularly in low-SDI regions, emphasizing the need for improved healthcare and neonatal surgery access.

We analyzed global trends in the prevalence, mortality, and DALYs of digestive congenital anomalies (DCAs) from 1990 to 2021 using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Our findings reveal that although the global burden of DCAs has declined, significant disparities persist, particularly in low- and middle-SDI regions. Frontier analysis emphasized substantial improvement potential in these regions. These results underscore the urgent need for enhanced screening programs, healthcare resources, and targeted interventions in low-SDI regions to further reduce the burden of DCAs and achieve equitable healthcare outcomes.