The global burden and trends of asthma from 1990 to 2021, and its changes during the COVID-19 pandemic: An observational study

Abstract

Objectives

This study aims to comprehensively analyze the global burden and trends of asthma, along with their variations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Study design

An observational study.

Methods

The data on age-standardized rates of incidence (ASIR), prevalence (ASPR), and deaths (ASDR) for asthma were accessed from the Global Burden of Disease 2021. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) and annual percent changes (APCs) were calculated to describe secular trends. The rate differences between the average rates of 2020–2021 and those of 2018–2019 represent the change in the burden of asthma before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

In 2021, the global ASIR, ASPR, and ASDR of asthma were 516.70, 3340.12, and 5.2 per 100,000, with EAPCs of −1.04 %, −1.59 %, and −2.03 %, respectively. However, from 2018 to 2021, the global ASIR and ASPR of asthma showed a significant upward trend, with APCs of 0.41 % (95 % CI: 0.11 %–0.86 %) and 0.28 % (95 % CI: 0.04 %–0.69 %), respectively. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the global ASIR and ASPR increased significantly (rate differences were 5.26 and 23.10 per 100,000, respectively), especially in the high SDI regions (rate differences were 16.28 and 51.05 per 100,000, respectively), and among children aged under 5 (rate differences were 12.73 and 82.09 per 100,000, respectively).

Conclusion

During the COVID-19 pandemic period in 2020–2021, the incidence and prevalence of asthma have exhibited an upward trend globally, especially in high SDI regions and among children under 5 years old. This necessitates increased attention and intervention.