The global burden of metabolic disease: Data from 2000 to 2019

Global estimates of prevalence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 were examined for metabolic diseases (type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM], hypertension, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD]). For metabolic risk factors (hyperlipidemia and obesity), estimates were limited to mortality and DALYs. From 2000 to 2019, prevalence rates increased for all metabolic diseases, with the greatest increase in high socio-demographic index (SDI) countries. Mortality rates decreased over time in hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and NAFLD, but not in T2DM and obesity. The highest mortality was found in the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean region, and low to low-middle SDI countries. The global prevalence of metabolic diseases has risen over the past two decades regardless of SDI. Urgent attention is needed to address the unchanging mortality rates attributed to metabolic disease and the entrenched sex-regional-socioeconomic disparities in mortality. [Display omitted] •Global estimates from the GBD Study 2019 were examined for metabolic diseases•Mortality rates decreased over time for hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and NAFLD•Mortality rates remained unchanged over time for diabetes and obesity•The highest mortality was in the Eastern Mediterranean and low-income countries Global estimates from the GBD Study 2019 reveal decreasing mortality rates between 2000 and 2019 for hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and NAFLD, but not for T2DM and obesity. The highest mortality rate due to metabolic disease was found in the Eastern Mediterranean, and in low- to low-middle-income countries. Urgent attention is needed to address high and unchanging mortality rates as well as entrenched sex-regional-socioeconomic disparities in death related to metabolic disease.