Peripheral nerve injury: global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and disability from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (1990–2021)

Background: Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is associated with substantial functional impairment and long-term disability, yet its global epidemiological burden has not been comprehensively quantified. This study aimed to estimate the incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability (YLDs) of PNI at global, regional, and national levels from 1990 to 2021. Methods: Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021. Incident cases, prevalent cases, and YLDs, along with age-standardized rates (ASRs), were estimated, stratified by age, sex, year, and Sociodemographic Index (SDI). Temporal trends were assessed using joinpoint regression to calculate annual percentage change (APC) and average annual percentage change (AAPC). Associations between ASRs, AAPCs, and SDI were examined using Spearman’s rank correlation. Decomposition analysis was performed to quantify the contributions of population growth, population ageing, and epidemiological change to variations in PNI burden. Results: Between 1990 and 2021, global incident PNI cases increased by 0.58% to 4 134 699, while the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) declined by 27.4% to 53 per 100 000 population. Similar patterns were observed for prevalence and YLDs, with increasing absolute numbers but decreasing ASRs. Over the study period, ASIR, age-standardized prevalence rate, and age-standardized YLD rate decreased, with AAPCs of −1.01, −0.99, and −1.01, respectively. Males consistently had higher ASRs than females. In 2021, incidence peaked at ages 15–19 years, whereas prevalence and YLDs peaked at ages 55–59 years. Nationally, ASRs were positively correlated with SDI, while AAPCs were negatively correlated with SDI. Decomposition analysis identified population growth as the main contributor to the increasing global PNI burden. Conclusions: The global burden of PNI shows marked temporal, demographic, and geographic heterogeneity. Despite declining age-standardized rates, absolute burden continues to rise, driven primarily by population growth, highlighting the need for targeted prevention and healthcare planning.