Growing burden of inflammatory bowel disease in China: Findings from the Global Burden of Diseases 2021 and predictions to 2035.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) imposes a significant economic and social burden in China. We aim to assess the epidemiological trends of IBD in China, and to predict the burden in the near future.

Methods: The incidence, mortality, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life year (DALYs) of IBD from 1990 to 2021 were obtained from Global Burden of Disease 2021. Estimated annual percentage change (EAPC), average annual percent change, total percent change, and age-period-cohort model were used to access trends. Bayesian age-period-cohort model was utilized to predict the risk of incidence and mortality.

Results: In 2021, IBD affected 168,077 people in China, with 24,941 new cases and 5640 deaths. The age-standardized rate (ASR) of incidence and death was 1.4 and 0.3, respectively. The incidence and prevalence in China were lower than the global and high socio-demographic index (SDI) regions, but the ASR of incidence and prevalence (EAPC: 2.93 and 2.54, respectively) had rapidly increased from 1990 to 2021. The ASR of death and DALYs had significantly decreased (EAPC: -3.05 and -2.93, respectively). Middle-aged and elderly populations faced a severe burden of incidence and prevalence, while the elderly population faced a severe mortality burden. It is projected that by 2035, the ASR of incidence will continue to rise, whereas the death rate will continue to decline.

Conclusions: The burden of IBD in China is serious and increasingly severe. Establishing a comprehensive disease management system in China will help better control the medical burden of IBD.