Cross-Country Inequalities in Disease Burden and Quality of Care of Stroke, 1990-2021: A Systematic Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

This study aims to assess the disease burden and care quality along with cross-country inequalities for stroke at global, regional, and national levels from 1990 to 2021.

METHODS

Data on stroke were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2021 for the globe, five sociodemographic index (SDI) regions, 21 GBD regions, and 204 countries/territories. The disease burden was quantified using the age-standardized disability-adjusted life years rate (ASDR). Quality of care (QoC) was evaluated through the age-standardized QoC index (QCI). To assess cross-country disparities in both disease burden and age-standardized QCI, the slope index of inequality (SII) and the concentration index were utilized.

RESULTS

From 1990 to 2021, the global ASDR of stroke decreased from 3078.95 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 2893.58, 3237.34) to 1886.20 (95% UI: 1738.99, 2017.90) per 100,000 population, while the age-standardized QCI improved from 50.79 to 64.61. However, the results of inequalities showed worsening inequalities in both ASDR and QCI, with lower SDI countries shouldering a disproportionate burden and higher SDI countries maintaining higher QoC. The SII and concentration index for ASDR indicated a worsening inequality among lower SDI countries, with SII increasing to -2616.44 and the concentration index increasing to -0.1119 in 2021. Meanwhile, the SII and concentration index for age-standardized QCI showed a worsening inequality among higher SDI countries, with SII of 27.48 and concentration index of 0.0922 in 2021.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite notable global advancements, significant disparities in stroke still exist, particularly in lower SDI regions facing high disease burdens and substandard care.