Incidence trends of pediatric psoriasis in 1990-2021: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Abstract Background Pediatric psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that poses unique challenges in diagnosis and management. While studies from high-income countries have reported rising incidence trends, global data on the incidence of pediatric psoriasis remain scarce. Objective To provide a comprehensive description of pediatric psoriasis incidence at the global, regional, and national levels. Method We analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 to evaluate the incidence trends of pediatric psoriasis from 1990 to 2021. Incidence rates were stratified by age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI). Estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was used to quantify the temporal trends. Results In 2021, there were 664,100 cases of pediatric psoriasis globally, with an incidence rate of 33.0 per 100,000 children. Over the study period, the global incidence increased by 0.21% (95% CI 0.18–0.25%) per year, with more pronounced rises observed in low- and middle-SDI regions. The highest incidence rates were recorded in high-SDI regions, such as High-income North America (70.5 per 100,000) and Western Europe (67.5 per 100,000). Notably, the largest increases in incidence occurred in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa. At the national level, 189 countries/territories experienced significant increases in pediatric psoriasis incidence, while only five countries saw a decline. Incidence was higher in girls across all age groups, with the most pronounced rise in children under 5 years old. Conclusions The incidence of pediatric psoriasis has significantly increased, particularly in low- and middle-SDI regions, underscoring the need for improved diagnosis, early intervention, and targeted public health strategies.