Global, regional, and national perspectives on aortic aneurysm burden from 1992 to 2021: temporal patterns and age-period-cohort analyses

Abstract Aims To assess the global, regional, and country-specific trends in the burden of Aortic aneurysm (AA) from 1992 to 2021, with a focus on mortality rates, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and socio-demographic inequalities. Methods and results The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study data were utilized to calculate the age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) and disability-adjusted life-year rates (ASDR) for AA in 204 countries. Temporal patterns were assessed using Joinpoint regression and age-period-cohort modelling. Cross-country inequalities were evaluated using the slope index of inequality (SII) and concentration index. Globally, the disease burden of AA showed a downward trend. The ASMR for AA decreased from 2.57 per 100 000 (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 2.37, 2.72) in 1992 to 1.86 per 100 000 (95% UI: 1.67, 2.00) in 2021 (EAPC: −1.36%). The age effect indicated that the age-specific mortality rate sharply escalates with age, but opposite trends exist in period and cohort effects. The gender-specific analysis confirmed a consistently higher burden in males, with more pronounced reductions in high socio-demographic index (SDI) regions. Cross-country analyses highlighted widening absolute inequalities (SII: 74.4 to 84.1) but reduced relative inequalities (concentration index: 0.48 to 0.28) over time. Conclusion There is a downward trend in the global burden of AA from 1992 to 2021, with significant disparities observed across genders, age groups, and SDI regions. These findings emphasize the need for prevention through base healthcare services, risk factor management, and equitable access to interventions to effectively address the disproportionate AA burden.