Global Burden of Cardiovascular Disease Attributable to Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in Middle-Aged Adults: An Age-Period-Cohort Modelling Study.

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) presents a significant burden among middle-aged adults (aged 35-64). Diet high in sugar-sweetened beverages is a notable CVD risk factor.

METHODS

Using Global Burden of Disease data from 1990 to 2019, age-standardized rates (ASRs) and average annual percentage change of ASRs were used to describe this burden and its changing trend.

RESULTS

In 2019, global CVD-related ASR (per 100 000) of deaths attributable to sugar-sweetened beverages in middle-aged adults reached 1.91 (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 1.07-2.63) compared with 2.75 (95% UI, 1.76-3.59) in 1990. The global ASR of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) reached 69.71 in 2019 (95% UI, 38.38-96.36) compared with 97.98 (95% UI, 62.29-128.39) in 1990. Men had more than twice the deaths and DALYs as women. Low and low-middle sociodemographic index regions exhibited a higher burden of DALYs and deaths. In 2019, India and China had the highest numbers of deaths and DALYs and the Solomon Islands and Afghanistan recorded the highest ASRs of deaths and DALYs. A negative linear correlation was observed between sociodemographic index and ASRs of deaths (=-0.10, =0.010) and DALYs (=-0.09, =0.031) across 21 Global Burden of Disease regions. An inequalities analysis indicated that DALYs due to CVD were disproportionately higher in countries with lower sociodemographic index in 2019 (concentration index of inequality=-0.05 [95% CI, -0.1 to -0.01]).

CONCLUSIONS

Globally, sugar-sweetened beverages have contributed to a substantial increase in DALYs and deaths related to CVD in middle-aged adults over the past 30 years, especially among men and in low sociodemographic index countries.