BACKGROUND: Geographical disparities are evident in the burden of digestive system diseases. To date, however, a comparative analysis that simultaneously examines the burden of common digestive cancers alongside non-malignant conditions using the most recent GBD 2021 data is lacking. A comprehensive global assessment of the burden of digestive system diseases is therefore warranted. METHODS: This study analyzed incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALYs of four digestive system diseases from the GBD 2021 database. The incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALYs were further examined across age groups, sexes, and regions. The ASIR, ASPR, ASMR, ASDR, and EAPC were used to evaluate the disease burden. RESULTS: In 2021, gastritis and duodenitis exhibited the highest ASIR and ASPR, whereas colon and rectum cancer presented the highest ASMR and ASDR. From 1990 to 2021, the ASIR and ASPR of colon and rectum cancer demonstrated an upward trend, while its ASMR and ASDR declined. By contrast, all metrics for stomach cancer, peptic ulcer disease, and gastritis and duodenitis showed declining trends. CONCLUSION: The global burden of digestive diseases continues to pose a substantial public health challenge. Greater attention should be directed toward high-risk factors, early screening, and effective prevention and treatment strategies.
Li et al. (Wed,) studied this question.