Global burden of injury due to low bone mineral density in adults aged 55 years and older, 1990 to 2021: A population-based study

Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the global burden of injuries due to low bone mineral density (BMD) among adults aged 55 and above from 1990 to 2021, focusing on mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and analyzing trends across sexes, age groups, and sociodemographic index (SDI) regions.

Methods

Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, covering 204 countries and territories, were analyzed. Joinpoint regression quantified temporal changes in mortality and DALYs, calculating average annual percentage change (AAPC). Age-period-cohort modeling elucidated demographic influences, and decomposition analysis identified key contributors to mortality changes.

Results

Globally, in 2021, the crude DALY rate for injuries due to low BMD was 900.32 (95 % UI: 742.64 to 1081.51) per 100,000, and the crude mortality rate was 27.04 (95 % UI: 22.49 to 30.75) per 100,000. The age-standardized mortality rate for injuries due to low BMD showed no significant change from 1990 to 2021 (AAPC 0.26 %, P = 0.071), but there was a significant increase in countries with a high SDI (AAPC 0.51 %, P = 0.001). The burden of disease in persons aged 80 years and older remained substantial, with a slight increase. Decomposition analysis identified population growth as the main driver of increasing mortality and DALYs.

Conclusion

Despite the reductions in DALY rates, the mortality has remained stable worldwide; however, has risen significantly in high SDI countries. The substantial and slightly increasing burden of disease in people aged 80 years and older underscores the need for targeted strategies for the prevention and management of low BMD to mitigate the future global impact of these injuries.