Global, regional, and national burden of headache disorders, 1990–2021: A systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Abstract Background Headache disorders, particularly migraine and tension‐type headache, are significant contributors to disability worldwide, with a rising burden over recent decades. This burden varies across regions, sexes, and age groups. Methods We used data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 study to examine the incidence, prevalence, and disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs) of headache disorders across 204 countries and territories. Results Between 1990 and 2021, the global burden of headache disorders increased significantly, with incidence rising from 533.8 million (95% uncertainty intervals [UI]: 472.5–591.4) to 809.2 million (95% UI: 717.8–896.0), prevalence from 1.79 billion (95% UI: 1.65–1.94) to 2.81 billion (95% UI: 2.60–3.03), and disability‐adjusted life years from 30.3 million (95% UI: 5.96–64.8) to 48.0 million (95% UI: 9.80–100.7). Females consistently bore a 1.6‐fold higher DALY burden than males, particularly in the 15–49 years age group. Middle sociodemographic index regions, especially in Latin America, saw the most substantial increases in both all‐age rates and age‐standardized rates. Projections to 2050 indicate further growth, with incidence reaching 1.08 billion, prevalence 3.84 billion, and DALYs 631.7 million. Conclusions The global burden of headache disorders is rising, with notable variations across regions, sexes, and age groups. Sex differences, with higher rates in females, remain consistent, although the burden in males is increasing rapidly. Effective management strategies are urgently needed, including improved healthcare services, increased awareness, and targeted interventions to enhance patients' quality of life and the efficiency of global healthcare systems.