ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Cardiovasc. Med.
Sec. Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Prevention
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2025.1649408
Global, Regional, and National Burden of Ischemic Heart Disease in Youths and Young Adults Aged 15-39 Years in 204 Countries/Territories, 1990-2021: A Systematic Analysis of Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Provisionally accepted
- Department of Cardiology, Yancheng TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Yancheng, China
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Background: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) remains a global public health challenge. This study explores global trends in IHD burden among youths and young adults aged 15–39 years from 1990 to 2021. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. Estimated annual percentage change was used to assess trends in age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR), incidence rate (ASIR), mortality rate (ASMR), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Risk factors were analyzed globally and by socio-demographic index (SDI) regions. Bayesian age-period-cohort models predicted trends over the next 30 years. Results: From 1990 to 2021, IHD-related mortality and DALYs declined overall, while prevalence and incidence increased. The largest increases in ASPR, ASIR, ASMR, and DALY rates were observed in middle-SDI regions. Geographically, Asia bore the heaviest burden, whereas high-income North America showed the greatest decreases in prevalence and incidence. In 2021, Oceania had the highest IHD-related deaths and DALYs, with Lesotho exhibiting the greatest rise in ASMR and DALY rates. The IHD burden rose with age, peaking in the 35–39 years group, and was higher in males. Major risk factors included high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking, and high systolic blood pressure. Projections suggest a global decline in IHD burden, with decreasing incidence and deaths across both sexes by 2050. Conclusions: While mortality and DALYs have decreased over the past 30 years, prevalence and incidence of IHD in youths and young adults have increased. The burden is projected to decline, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions, particularly in males aged 35–39 years, based on regional epidemiological patterns and risk factors. Trial registration: not applicable.
Keywords: Ischemic heart disease1, youths and young adults2, global burden of disease3, risk factor4, prediction5
Received: 03 Jul 2025; Accepted: 17 Sep 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Sun, Li, Ni, Pan, Gu, Song, Liu and Gu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Weixin Sun, sunwx@njucm.edu.cn
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