Abstract:
Objective To analyzes the disease burden of opioid use disorder (OUD) in China and in the world from 1990 to 2021, and provide data support and evidence for public health policy development and disease intervention.
Methods The data of the incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of OUD in China and in the world from 1990 to 2021 were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 database. Joinpoint regression model was used to calculate the average annual percentage change (AAPC) of the disease burden. Health inequality analysis and frontier analysis were conducted by using socio-demographic index (SDI). Decomposition analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of population growth, population aging, and epidemiological factors on the OUD burden.
Results From 1990 to 2021, the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) and age-standardized DALYs rate (ASDR) of OUD decreased from 30.78/100 000 to 16.66/100 000, from 192.51/100 000 to 94.35/100 000, and from 156.25/100 000 to 53.97/100 000, respectively in China with the AAPCs of −2.05, −2.36% and −3.39%, while the global rates increased from 23.37/100 000 to 24.54/100 000, from 154.59/100 000 to 198.49/100,000 and from 103.69/100 000 to 137.15/100 000, respectively, with the AAPCs of 0.12%, 0.81% and 0.98%. The OUD burden level peaked in individuals aged 25−<30 years, and it was significantly higher in men than in women. SDI showed a positive correlation with OUD burden, and the disease burden level varied across socioeconomic groups, and more efforts are needed to control OUD burden in some countries. Epidemiological changes were the main factors associated with the decline of OUD burden level in China, while population growth was the leading contributor to the global increase.
Conclusion OUD remains a major global public health challenge due to the rising disease burden. Although China has seen improvements in OUD burden control, the overall burden level remains high. There is an urgent need to develop comprehensive prevention strategies, targeted interventions and effective treatment protocols.