Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41144508›Full record

ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2025

Trends and cross-country inequities by region, sex, age in the mortality, incidence, and disability-adjusted life years of COVID-19: Analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Xiao-Han Xu, Jing Sun, Jin-Lun Zhang, Zhou Yang, Chun-Quan Ou

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Xiao-Han XuState Key Laboratory of Multi-organ Injury Prevention and Treatment, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Jing SunRural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, New South Wales, Australia.
Jin-Lun ZhangState Key Laboratory of Multi-organ Injury Prevention and Treatment, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Zhou YangState Key Laboratory of Multi-organ Injury Prevention and Treatment, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Chun-Quan OuState Key Laboratory of Multi-organ Injury Prevention and Treatment, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.ORCID 0000-0001-6866-7213

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has imposed a substantial disease burden globally and has further exacerbated pre-existing health inequities. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of the burden and inequities associated with COVID-19 across diverse populations.

methodsUsing data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021, we systematically analyzed deaths, incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and years of life lost (YLLs) of COVID-19 stratified by sex, age, and region. The temporal trends pre- and post-2019 (i.e., 1990-2019 and 2019-2021) were measured using average annual percent change (AAPC). Additionally, the cross-country absolute and relative sociodemographic index (SDI)-related health inequities were assessed using the slope index and concentration index, respectively. The SDI is a composite development indicator that incorporates income, educational attainment, and fertility conditions.

resultsTrends in the global burden of all-cause mortality and DALYs exhibited significant declines (AAPC < 0) from 1990 to 2019 but underwent a marked reversal trend (AAPC > 0) following the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, COVID-19 resulted in 2.28 billion incident cases and 7.89 million deaths globally, with an age-standardized DALYs rate of 2,501 per 100,000 population. While incidence rates were relatively evenly distributed across populations, mortality was disproportionately higher among males and older adults. Substantial health inequities in the burden of COVID-19 were evident across 204 countries and territories, with absolute widening inequities notably in 2021 (e.g., the slope index of inequity for DALYs rose from 2,713 in 2020 to 4,044 in 2021). Greater inequities are disproportionately concentrated among males, middle-aged and older individuals, and regions with lower SDI levels.

conclusionsThese findings highlight the substantial disease burden of COVID-19 and elucidate the multidimensional health inequities exacerbated by the pandemic, providing crucial evidence for targeted interventions to address inequities and strengthen resilience in future global health emergencies.

Indexed as

COVID-19Global Burden of DiseaseGlobal HealthHealth Status DisparitiesAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAge FactorsChildChild, PreschoolDisability-Adjusted Life YearsFemaleHumansIncidenceInfant

Identifiers

PMID41144508
PMCPMC12558479

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.