Global, regional, and national burden of pancreatitis in children and adolescents

Abstract Background Pancreatitis poses a growing public health concern among children and adolescents, yet comprehensive data on its prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs) remain scarce. This study aims to analyze global, regional, and national trends in pancreatitis burden over the past 3 decades. Methods Using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 database spanning 1990–2019, we assessed pancreatitis prevalence, incidence, mortality, and DALYs, reporting on numbers, rates, age‐standardized prevalence rate (ASPR), age‐standardized incidence rate (ASIR), age‐standardized mortality rate (ASMR), age‐standardized DALYs rate (ASDR), and average annual percentage changes (AAPCs). Trends were analyzed by age, sex, region, and socio‐demographic index (SDI) using jointpoint analysis and predictive modeling. Results Globally, pancreatitis prevalence and incidence rates have increased (AAPC prevalence = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.11–0.16; AAPC incidence = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.28–0.32), while mortality and DALYs rates have decreased (AAPC mortality = −1.30, 95% CI: −1.53, −1.07; AAPC DALYs = −1.21, 95% CI: −1.41, −1.01). Both genders showed similar trends. Children under 5 and adolescents 15–19 had higher mortality and DALYs rates. Low SDI regions experienced the greatest increase in ASIR. Eastern Europe exhibited high and rising ASIR, ASMR, and ASDR. Projections indicate continued rise in prevalence with declining mortality and DALYs. Conclusion Pancreatitis burden in children and adolescents has surged globally, especially in lower SDI regions. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions and healthcare resources in affected areas.