Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41309476›Full record

Observational studyBMJ open2025

Global, regional and national burden and trends of sense organ diseases from 1990 to 2021: based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study.

Miao Zheng, Tongle Yin, Ziying Jiang, Xuan Li, Bingquan Fang, Mengshan Pan, Jiamin Xu, Ying Xu, Hendsun Hendsun, Jiaqin Xu and 6 more

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing 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

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Miao Zheng *School of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Tongle YinSchool of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Ziying JiangSchool of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-0484-1611
Xuan LiSchool of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Bingquan FangSchool of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Mengshan PanSchool of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Jiamin XuSchool of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Ying XuSchool of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Hendsun HendsunInternational Education College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Jiaqin XuSchool of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Yan ZhangSchool of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Hui KanSchool of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Xiaoyan WangSchool of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Rucheng ChenSchool of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Weijun ZhengSchool of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China chenan198710@outlook.com; zwj@zcmu.edu.cn.
An Chen *University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland chenan198710@outlook.com; zwj@zcmu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9419-8254

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesSense organ diseases (SODs) are among the leading causes of disability worldwide. They severely impact communication, mobility and quality of life, with rising prevalence and widening inequalities across populations. This study aims to provide an updated, comprehensive assessment of the global, regional and national burden and trends of SODs, and to inform strategies for prevention, treatment and health policy development.

designThis is a population-based observational study using secondary data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study. SODs, defined in the GBD framework as age-related and other hearing loss (AHL), blindness and vision loss (BVL), and other sensory impairments, were analysed in terms of prevalence and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). We focused on SODs overall and conducted specific analyses for AHL and BVL, stratified by age, sex and sociodemographic index (SDI).

settingGlobal dataset covering 204 countries and territories across all regions and sociodemographic strata from 1990 to 2021.

participantsThis study covered the global population represented in the GBD 2021 dataset, using aggregated population-level estimates with no direct individual recruitment.

interventionsNot applicable. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes were prevalence (cases and age-standardised prevalence rates) and DALYs (number and age-standardised DALY rates). Secondary outcomes included age-period-cohort effects, decomposition of contributors (population growth, ageing and epidemiological change), inequality metrics and burden projections to 2030.

resultsBetween 1990 and 2021, the global age-standardised rate (ASR) of DALYs for SODs increased from 884.07 to 912.8 per 100 000 population. The ASR of prevalence rose from 25 297.36 to 28 050.29 per 100 000. The disease burden increased across all age groups, with females experiencing a higher prevalence of SODs, and population growth and ageing as the leading contributors. AHL emerged as the predominant category of SODs. Socioeconomic disparities widened, with the slope index of inequality for DALYs rising from 128.82 in 1990 to 418.62 in 2021. In 2021, China reported the highest DALYs and case numbers. Predictive analysis showed a stable ASR of DALYs and prevalence, but a continued rise in cases through 2030, with COVID-19 further exacerbating the burden.

conclusionsThe global burden of SODs continues to rise, driven primarily by population ageing and growth, with widening disparities across sociodemographic levels. These findings emphasise the need for targeted prevention strategies, improved early detection and equitable access to sensory healthcare services. Monitoring the long-term impact of COVID-19 and demographic shifts remains a priority. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Not applicable. This study is a secondary analysis of GBD data and is not linked to a clinical trial.

Indexed as

BlindnessGlobal Burden of DiseaseHearing LossAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overChildChild, PreschoolDisability-Adjusted Life YearsFemaleGlobal HealthHumansInfantMaleMiddle AgedEpidemiologyHealth economicsHearingPublic health

Identifiers

PMID41309476
PMCPMC12666223

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

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.