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BACKGROUND: Understanding global trends in the point prevalence, deaths and disability adjusted life years (DALYs) for asthma will facilitate evidence-based decision making. RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the global, regional and national burden of asthma in 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2019, by age, sex and socio-demographic index (SDI)? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Publicly available data from the Global Burden of Disease study were used over the period 1990 to 2019. All estimates were presented as counts and age-standardised rates per 100,000, along with their associated uncertainty intervals (UIs). RESULTS: In 2019, the global age-standardised point prevalence and death rates for asthma were 3415.5 and 5.8 per 100,000, which represent a 24% and 51.3% decrease since 1990, respectively. Moreover, in 2019 the global age-standardised DALY rate was 273.6 and the global point prevalence of asthma was highest in the 5-9 age group. Also in 2019, the USA (10399.3) had the highest age-standardised point prevalence rate of asthma. Generally, the burden of asthma decreased with increasing socio-demographic index (SDI). Globally, high body mass index (16.9%), smoking (9.9%) and occupational asthmagens (8.8%) contributed to the 2019 asthma DALYs. INTERPRETATION: Asthma remains an important public health issue, particularly in regions with low socio-economic development. Future research is needed to thoroughly examine the associations asthma has with its risk factors and the factors impeding optimal self-management. Further research is also needed to understand and better implement the interventions that have reduced the burden of asthma.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.chest.2021.09.042

Type

Journal article

Journal

Chest

Publication Date

23/10/2021

Keywords

Asthma, Burden, Epidemiology, Mortality, Risk factors