Objective: Women of childbearing age (WCBA, 15– 49 years) are a key population for public health prevention, yet evidence on long-term trends in modifiable risk factors and their attributable burden remains limited. We aimed to assess global patterns and temporal changes in major modifiable risk factors among WCBA. Methods: Using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021, we analysed summary exposure values, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to 83 modifiable risk factors across metabolic, behavioural, and environmental/occupational domains. Results: In 2021, 1.10 million deaths and 108.0 million DALYs among WCBA were attributable to modifiable risk factors, representing 34.83% of total deaths and 26.52% of total DALYs. The leading Level 3 risk factors for DALYs were unsafe sex (4.89%), iron deficiency (3.36%), high body mass index (BMI) (3.19%), and high fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (2.48%). Between 1990 and 2021, environmental and occupational risk exposures generally declined over time, whereas metabolic risk exposures—particularly high BMI (EAPC 1.83%) and high FPG (EAPC 1.59%)—showed sustained increases across most regions. Risk profiles varied across sociodemographic index (SDI) levels, with reproductive and nutritional risks predominating in lower-SDI settings and metabolic or behavioural risks more prominent in higher-SDI settings. Conclusion: Modifiable risk factors account for a substantial proportion of disease burden among WCBA. The coexistence of rising metabolic risks and persistent reproductive and nutritional challenges calls for targeted strategies—strengthening reproductive health and nutrition programmes in lower-SDI settings, and prioritising obesity prevention and metabolic screening in higher-SDI regions. Keywords: women of childbearing age, modifiable risk factors, global burden of disease, disability-adjusted life years, temporal trends, public health prevention
Xu et al. (Fri,) studied this question.