Burden of cardiovascular disease attributable to metabolic risks in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021

To evaluate the global cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden attributable to metabolic risks in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021.

Following the methodologies used in the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, this study analysed CVD deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) attributable to metabolic risks by location, age, sex, and Socio-demographic Index (SDI). In 2021, metabolic risks accounted for 13.59 million CVD deaths (95% UI 12.01–15.13) and 287.17 million CVD DALYs (95% UI 254.92–316.32) globally, marking increases of 63.3% and 55.5% since 1990, respectively. Despite these increases, age-standardized mortality and DALY rates have significantly declined. The highest age-standardized rates of metabolic risks-attributable CVD mortality and DALYs were observed in Central Asia and Eastern Europe, while the lowest rates were found in High-income Asia Pacific, Australasia, and Western Europe, all of which are high SDI regions. Among the metabolic risks, high systolic blood pressure emerged as the predominant factor, contributing to the highest numbers of CVD deaths [10.38 million (95% UI 8.78–12.03)] and DALYs [14.52 million (95% UI 180.42–247.57)] in 2021, followed by high LDL cholesterol.

Our study highlights the persistent and significant impact of metabolic risks on the global CVD burden from 1990 to 2021, emphasizing the need of designing public health strategies that align with regional healthcare capacities and demographic differences to effectively reduce these effects through enhanced international collaboration and specific policies.