The absolute global burden of cardiovascular mortality and DALYs attributable to metabolic risk factors in adolescents and young adults has increased significantly since 1990, driven largely by rising BMI and fasting plasma glucose.
OBJECTIVES Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality worldwide, with metabolic risk factors (MRFs) playing a predominant role. This is of particular concern for adolescents and young adults (AYAs), as it can lead to lifelong cardiovascular risk. However, a comprehensive assessment of this burden is lacking. METHODS Using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, we estimated the mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) caused by CVD-MRFs among individuals aged 15-39 years from 1990 to 2021. Analyses were stratified by age, sex, region, and Socio-demographic Index (SDI). Joinpoint regression analyzed trends, and a Bayesian age-period-cohort model projected future burden to 2050. RESULTS In 2021, CVD-MRFs caused 213,000 deaths and 12.9 million DALYs globally among AYAs. While age-standardized rates declined modestly, absolute deaths and DALYs increased by 29.1% and 30.4% since 1990. The burden was highest in middle and low-middle SDI regions and was twice as high in males as in females. The 20-24-year age group was the only subgroup with a rising mortality trend. High body-mass index (BMI) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were the most rapidly growing MRFs, though high systolic blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol remained the leading risks. Ischemic heart disease was the predominant condition. Projections indicate a persistent absolute burden through 2050. CONCLUSIONS The AYAs face a growing absolute burden of CVD-MRFs, driven notably by high BMI and FPG. Urgent, targeted prevention strategies are essential, particularly for males, young adults aged 20-24 years, and populations in middle and low-middle SDI regions.
Chen et al. (Thu,) studied this question.