Trend analysis and cross-national inequity analysis of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases in children and adolescents aged 10–24 from 1990 to 2021

Introduction

Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are chronic inflammatory diseases caused by immune system dysregulation, affecting multiple systems and organs. Children and adolescents aged 10–24 are among the high-risk groups, and the global burden is substantial.

Methods

Using the latest data from global burden of disease (GBD) 2021, we employed Joinpoint regression analysis, Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) correlation analysis, and cross-national equity analysis to elucidate the spatiotemporal differences in the burden of IMIDs among 10-24-year-olds from 1990 to 2021.

Results

The burden of IMIDs in adolescents aged 10–24, ranked by severity, includes asthma, atopic dermatitis (AD), psoriasis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Among these, asthma, AD, psoriasis, RA, and MS are more prevalent in females. Compared to 1990, the incidence rates of asthma and AD decreased in 2021, while the rates of psoriasis, diabetes, and RA increased. IMIDs are more common in Western Europe and North America, with rising incidence rates in South America and Asia. Concentration indices and slope indices indicate that these diseases are primarily concentrated in high SDI regions, although the differences in incidence rates between countries are decreasing.

Conclusion

While focusing on high-incidence regions, we must also pay attention to the incidence of IMIDs in emerging regions such as Asia and South America. Only in this way can we effectively reduce the heavy burden that IMIDs place on younger people globally.