Trends in the global, regional, and national burden of pancreatitis among children and adolescents based on the GBD 2021

BACKGROUND: Increasing pancreatitis incidence among children and adolescents has emerged as a public health challenge. Using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021, this study aims to analyze the global, regional, and national burden of pancreatitis in pediatric populations from 1990 to 2021. METHODS: Using GBD 2021 data, we analyzed numbers and age-standardized rates of incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in populations aged 0-19 years at global, regional, and national levels, stratified by sex, age, and sociodemographic index (SDI). Furthermore, decomposition analysis, frontier analysis, and Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) prediction were performed. RESULTS: Globally, the incidence burden of pancreatitis in children and adolescents increased from 1990 to 2021, with the number of cases rising from 156 383.64 to 194 636.05 and the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) increasing from 6.91 to 7.18 per 100 000. Conversely, mortality and DALY burdens declined, with deaths decreasing from 1309.23 to 1120.09 and the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) dropping from 0.06 to 0.04 per 100 000. DALY cases decreased from 113 917.02 to 100 041.07 and the age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR) dropped from 4.99 to 3.65 per 100 000. Adolescents aged 15-19 years demonstrated the highest disease burden. Females exhibited higher incidence, while males demonstrated significantly higher mortality and DALYs. Predictions indicate sustained reductions in ASIR, ASMR, and ASDR until 2040. CONCLUSION: Despite declining mortality and DALY burdens, pancreatitis incidence among children and adolescents has increased, underscoring its significance as a global health threat. Geographic, age, gender, and SDI disparities persist.