Global, Regional, and National Burden of Urticaria (1990–2021) and Forecasts to 2036: Systematic Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Urticaria (URT), a condition characterized by itchy welts on the skin, can adversely affect patients’ quality of life and poses a considerable socioeconomic burden globally. In this study, we aimed to assess the burden of URT in different countries and territories between 1990 and 2021.

We analyzed the incidence, prevalence, disability‐adjusted life years, age‐standardized rates, and other indicators, globally and across 204 countries and territories, using data from the Global Burden of Disease 1990–2021 database. The data were further stratified by age, sex, and sociodemographic index.

There were approximately 66.5 million existing cases of URT and 117 million new cases globally, with an age‐standardized prevalence and incidence rate of 868.18 and 1533.71 per 100,000, respectively in 2021. Notably, the burden was higher in female. Trends indicated an overall increase in the URT incidence and prevalence, particularly among younger populations; however, older individuals showed a decline. Population growth was the primary driver of the rising incidence, accounting for 120.80% of the increase; aging negatively impacted the incidence by −20.93%. The predictions indicated a continued rise in the incidence and prevalence rates of URT through 2036 although URT‐related disability‐adjusted life years are expected to decrease.

Our study findings underscore the need for targeted public health interventions focusing on high‐risk individuals to address the growing burden of URT and improve health equity in affected populations.