Prevalence, Deaths, and Disability-Adjusted Life-Years Due to Asthma and Its Attributable Risk Factors in 204 Countries and Territories, 1990-2019

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 are the global, regional, and national burdens of asthma in 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2019 by age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI)?

Study Design and Methods

Publicly available data from the Global Burden of Disease study from 1990 through 2019 were used. All estimates were presented as counts and age-standardized rates per 100,000, along with their associated uncertainty intervals.

Results

In 2019, the global age-standardized point prevalence and death rates for asthma were 3,415.5 and 5.8 per 100,000, which represent a 24% and 51.3% decrease since 1990, respectively. Moreover, in 2019, the global age-standardized DALY rate was 273.6 and the global point prevalence of asthma was highest in the group 5 to 9 years of age. Also in 2019, the United States (10,399.3) showed the highest age-standardized point prevalence rate of asthma. Generally, the burden of asthma decreased with increasing SDI. Globally, high BMI (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 socioeconomic development. Future research is needed to examine thoroughly the associations asthma has with its risk factors and the factors impeding optimal self-management. Further research also is needed to understand and implement better the interventions that have reduced the burden of asthma.