Global burden of ischemic heart disease attributable to high sugar-sweetened beverages intake from 1990 to 2019.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Excessive sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) intake is associated with a higher risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD). However, global patterns and trends in the burden of IHD attributable to high SSBs intake have not been systematically assessed.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We retrieved data from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2019. We obtained the numbers and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rate (ASDR) of IHD attributable to high SSBs intake by sex, year, socio-demographic index (SDI), and country between 1990 and 2019. Furthermore, we used a validated decomposition algorithm to attribute changes to population growth, population aging, and epidemiologic changes in the 21 GBD regions. From 1990 to 2019, the global IHD mortality attributable to high SSBs intake, as quantified by ASMR and ASDR declined significantly, while the burden increased saliently in absolute numbers. Population decomposition suggested that changes in epidemiology in most GBD regions have reduced IHD mortality due to high SSBs intake, but this trend has been counteracted by population growth and aging.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the age-standardized rate of IHD deaths and DALYs attributable to high SSBs intake decreased overall from 1990 to 2019, the absolute IHD burden remains high in some countries, especially in some developing countries in Asia and Oceania. Action is needed to enhance the prevention of diseases associated with high SSBs intake.