Global impact of pelvic inflammatory diseases attributable to sexually transmitted infections in women of childbearing age: a comprehensive analysis based on GBD 2021 data and bibliometric analysis

Background: Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), often caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs), poses significant health threat to women of childbearing age (WCBA). This study assessed the global prevalence trends and research landscape of STIs-related PID. Methods: This study integrated GBD 2021 data and bibliometric analysis. Joinpoint regression calculated Average annual percentage change (AAPC) for age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) from 1990 to 2021. Decomposition analyses assessed the contributions of population growth, aging, and epidemiological changes to the prevalence trends for last 32 years. The Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model projected ASPR from 2022 to 2040, and the Nordpred model conducted a sensitivity analysis of the prediction results, which validated the findings’ reliability. 1726 related publications were retrieved from the WOS Core Collection database. Bibliometric information was extracted with VOSviewer software for visualization. Results: In 2021, an estimated 1,009,957.64 cases of PID due to STIs occurred among WCBA globally, with chlamydial infection accounting for approximately 23%, gonococcal infection (4.98%), and other STIs (72.03%). From 1990 to 2021, the global ASPR of STIs-related PID increased by AAPC of 0.13%, with the largest increase observed among women in the 20–24 years age group. Regionally, the highest ASPR was observed in low SDI regions in 2021, while the fastest increase occurred in middle SDI regions over the last 32 years. Decomposition analyses highlighted the population growth as a key driver of global prevalence rise, accounting for 78.5 %. The global ASPR of STIs-related PID is projected to continue rising from 2022 to 2040. Bibliometric analysis showed stable research on STIs and PID, with an increased citation rate. The United States was the leading contributor. Research focused on chlamydia trachomatis, with recent studies exploring the vaginal microbiome, resistance and protective immunity. Conclusions: This study performed an epidemiological assessment and bibliometric analysis of the PID attributable to STIs burden globally, informing policy-making and research directions.