Global burden and trends of oral disorders among adolescent and young adult (10-24 years old) from 1990 to 2021.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the patterns and trends in the global, regional, and national burden of oral disorders among adolescents and young adults (AYA) from 1990 to 2021.

METHODS

This is an epidemiological observational study that analyzed annual prevalence and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for oral disorders-including dental caries, periodontal disease, edentulism, and other oral conditions-among adolescents and young adults (ages 10-24) from 1990 to 2021. Data were sourced from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2021. To assess temporal trends, the estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC) in age-standardized prevalence and DALY rates were calculated at global, regional, and national levels. The GBD 2021 also provides sociodemographic index (SDI) data across 204 countries and territories. Pearson correlation analyses were conducted to explore the relationships between age-standardized prevalence and DALY rates with the SDI and their respective EAPCs.

RESULTS

Globally, the prevalent cases of oral disorders increased by 17.1%, from 549.2 million in 1990 to 643.3 million in 2021, and DALYs rose by 22.2%, from 1.4 million in 1990 to 1.7 million in 2021. The overall age-standardized prevalence rate (EAPC = - 0.07 [95% CI, - 0.12 to - 0.03]) decreased, while the age-standardized DALY rate (EAPC = 0.06 [0.02 to 0.11]) increased over the same period. While the burden of dental caries declined, the burden of periodontitis and edentulism significantly increased. A negative correlation was observed between age-standardized prevalence and DALY rates and SDI, while a positive correlation was found between the EAPC of age-standardized DALY rates and SDI.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence and DALYs of oral disorders among AYA have risen over the past three decades, particularly due to the growing burden of periodontitis and edentulism. Notably, the most significant increases have been observed in Southern Latin America and South Asia. While the global decline in dental caries has led to a reduction in ASPR, the escalating burden of periodontal disease and edentulism remains a critical concern. These trends emphasize the urgent need for innovative prevention and intervention strategies to improve oral health for this demographic worldwide.