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Open Access Original Article Issue
Global, Regional, and National Burden of Urticaria (1990–2021) and Forecasts to 2036: Systematic Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Medicine Advances 2026, 4(2): 179-195
Published: 02 June 2026
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Background

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.

Methods

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.

Results

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.

Conclusion

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.

Open Access Review Article Issue
Sex differences in the incidence of bipolar and anxiety disorders: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Health Engineering 2025, 1: 9460010
Published: 29 December 2025
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Objective: The Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021) was used to assess sex differences in the global incidence of bipolar disorder (BD) and anxiety disorders (ANXs). Methods: We estimated sex-specific incidence rates of BD and ANXs from GBD 2021 for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021. Annual and age-specific differences in age-standardized incidence rates (ASRs) by sex (absolute and relative), along with risk ratios, were calculated. Annual percent change was determined using joinpoint regression modeling, and linear regression was used to examine socioeconomic factors associated with sex differences in incidence. Results: Between 1990 and 2021, the absolute sex difference in ASRs for BD declined from 2.50 to 1.83, and the relative difference decreased from 1.08 to 1.06. In contrast, the absolute sex difference in ASRs for ANXs rose from 170.02 to 208.08, and the relative difference increased from 1.35 to 1.36. Relative sex differences in BD and ANXs were significantly positively associated with the sociodemographic index (BD, standardized β = 0.27, P < 0.001; ANXs, standardized β = 0.80, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Sex differences in the incidence of BD and ANXs have persisted worldwide over recent decades, with consistently higher rates among females relative to males. These sex differences are more pronounced in higher-income countries and territories. Policies should place greater emphasis on addressing BD and ANXs among females.

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