The impact of gastroesophageal reflux disease in East Asia and China between 1990 and 2021: insights from the 2021 global burden of disease research

Abstract Background Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a prevalent long-term digestive condition observed worldwide. However, the specific characteristics of the disease's impact in East Asia, particularly in China, remain insufficiently documented. Methods This study conducted a comprehensive assessment of the incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and prevalence of GERD in China and East Asia using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) project from 1990 to 2021. Through cross-national comparisons, longitudinal temporal analyses, and subgroup analyses of key characteristics, the study delves into the GERD disease burden in East Asia, particularly in China. Additionally, cutting-edge analytical methods were employed to forecast the disease burden trends from 2022 to 2046. Results In 2021, the East Asian region recorded 396,791,145 new cases of GERD, accounting for 12.24% of the global total. During the same year, China contributed 9.99%, 9.88%, and 9.85% to the worldwide statistics for incidence, DALYs, and prevalence of GERD, respectively, establishing itself as the leading country in East Asia in terms of case numbers. Between 1990 and 2021, China experienced a consistent increase in its age-standardized incidence, DALYs, and prevalence of GERD, alongside a significant rise in the total number of cases. The findings indicated that the burden of GERD was more pronounced in Chinese women than in men, particularly within the age groups of 50–59 and 30–34. The incidence for middle-aged and younger adults surpassed those reported in Japan and Republic of Korea. Projections suggest that, in contrast to the stable age-standardized incidence anticipated in Japan and Republic of Korea, both the total number of cases and the age-standardized incidence of GERD in China are expected to continue rising until 2046. Notably, a strong positive correlation exists between the age-standardized DALYs and the incidence of GERD with the Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) (DALYs and SDI: r = 0.822, p < 0.001; incidence and SDI: r = 0.824, p < 0.001). Conclusion In East Asia, especially in China, there is a significantly high prevalence of GERD cases, along with a substantial crude incidence and total DALY burden. For the last thirty years, the middle-aged and younger female demographic has received relatively little focus.