Diabetes burden, trends, and inequalities in western pacific region, 1990–2019: A population-based study

The aim was to describe the diabetes regional burden, trends, and inequalities in the Western Pacific region. The Global Burden of Disease 2019 study was used to evaluate the prevalence, incidence, mortality, disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rates and average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) in diabetes in the Western Pacific region from 1990 to 2019. Cross-country inequalities in the DALY rates of diabetes were estimated between 1990 and 2019. The age-standardized incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the Western Pacific region increased from 2.6 to 3.8 per 100,000 population (AAPC, 0.97 [95% CI 0.84 to 1.1]) and from 174.8 to 207.3 per 100,000 population (AAPC, 0.63 [95% CI 0.48 to 0.77]) between 1990 and 2019, respectively. The most substantial increase in the incidence of T1DM and T2DM was found in the groups aged 70 years and older (AAPC, 2.38 [95% CI 2.19 to 2.58]) and 15–49 years (AAPC, 1.58 [95% CI 1.43 to 1.72]) from 1990 to 2019, respectively. Age-standardized DALYs for T1DM decreased but those for T2DM increased between 1990 and 2019. The relative concentration index of DALYs in T1DM and T2DM changed from 0.11 in 1990 to −0.08 in 2019 and from 0.03 in 1990 to −0.04 in 2019, respectively. Over three decades, diabetes incidence in the Western Pacific region rose substantially, with inequalities among countries. The burden shifted from higher to lower sociodemographic index countries. Diabetes remains a public health challenge, especially among young populations. Urgent interventions for prevention and early detection are crucial. •Diabetes incidence in the Western Pacific region rose significantly from 1990 to 2019.•The burden of diabetes shifted from higher to lower socio-demographic index countries within the Western Pacific region.•Diabetes remains a public health challenge, especially among young populations.•Early detection of type 1 diabetes in the older population are strongly recommended.