Global, regional, and national anemia burden among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) from 1990 to 2021: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
BackgroundAnemia remains a significant global health challenge, disproportionately affecting women of reproductive age (WRA, 15 to 49 years) due to physiological and socioeconomic factors. However, there is a lack of high-quality data on anemia burden and causes analysis in this population. The aim...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1588496/full |
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| author | Wenshuai Zheng Bo Peng Yamei Wu Lixun Gauan Shenyu Wang Hongmei Ning |
| author_facet | Wenshuai Zheng Bo Peng Yamei Wu Lixun Gauan Shenyu Wang Hongmei Ning |
| author_sort | Wenshuai Zheng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundAnemia remains a significant global health challenge, disproportionately affecting women of reproductive age (WRA, 15 to 49 years) due to physiological and socioeconomic factors. However, there is a lack of high-quality data on anemia burden and causes analysis in this population. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive global assessment of anemia burden and its underlying causes among WRA.MethodsUsing data from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2021, we evaluated the prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), and underlying causes of anemia among WRA at global, regional, and national levels. We also evaluated the association between anemia burden and the socio-demographic index (SDI), quantified temporal trends of anemia burden from 1990 to 2021, and projected future burden to 2030.ResultsGlobally in 2021, there were 657.09 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 643.59 to 671.22) anemia cases and 18.07 million (95% UI: 12.00 to 26.17) YLDs among WRA. The global age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPR) and YLDs rates per 100,000 were 33,716.77 (95% UI: 33,023.84 to 34,441.71) and 927.03 (95% UI: 615.40 to 1,342.99) in 2021, and they decreased by 0.181% and 0.539% annually from 1990 to 2021, respectively. However, the decline in ASPR stagnated after 2009, with a slight increase observed through 2021, primarily driven by rising mild anemia. An inverse relationship existed between SDI and anemia burden across regions and nations. The most common causes of anemia were dietary iron deficiency, hemoglobinopathies and hemolytic anemias, and other neglected tropical diseases, with HIV/AIDS and malaria being most prominent in specific regions. Projections indicate anemia cases and YLD counts will rise consistently from 2022 to 2030, while ASPR and age-standardized YLD rates will decline.ConclusionAnemia among WRA is a major public health burden worldwide with persistent regional and socioeconomic disparities. Mitigating this burden requires continued efforts addressing underlying causes, reducing socioeconomic inequities, and improving access to healthcare and nutritional interventions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-17e0efa644fa4ed8a3dac49f5295d24e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-861X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-17e0efa644fa4ed8a3dac49f5295d24e2025-08-20T03:18:05ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2025-07-011210.3389/fnut.2025.15884961588496Global, regional, and national anemia burden among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) from 1990 to 2021: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021Wenshuai Zheng0Bo Peng1Yamei Wu2Lixun Gauan3Shenyu Wang4Hongmei Ning5Department of Hematology, Hainan Hospital of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Sanya, Hainan, ChinaSenior Department of Hematology, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, ChinaSenior Department of Hematology, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Hematology, Hainan Hospital of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Sanya, Hainan, ChinaSenior Department of Hematology, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, ChinaSenior Department of Hematology, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, ChinaBackgroundAnemia remains a significant global health challenge, disproportionately affecting women of reproductive age (WRA, 15 to 49 years) due to physiological and socioeconomic factors. However, there is a lack of high-quality data on anemia burden and causes analysis in this population. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive global assessment of anemia burden and its underlying causes among WRA.MethodsUsing data from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2021, we evaluated the prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), and underlying causes of anemia among WRA at global, regional, and national levels. We also evaluated the association between anemia burden and the socio-demographic index (SDI), quantified temporal trends of anemia burden from 1990 to 2021, and projected future burden to 2030.ResultsGlobally in 2021, there were 657.09 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 643.59 to 671.22) anemia cases and 18.07 million (95% UI: 12.00 to 26.17) YLDs among WRA. The global age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPR) and YLDs rates per 100,000 were 33,716.77 (95% UI: 33,023.84 to 34,441.71) and 927.03 (95% UI: 615.40 to 1,342.99) in 2021, and they decreased by 0.181% and 0.539% annually from 1990 to 2021, respectively. However, the decline in ASPR stagnated after 2009, with a slight increase observed through 2021, primarily driven by rising mild anemia. An inverse relationship existed between SDI and anemia burden across regions and nations. The most common causes of anemia were dietary iron deficiency, hemoglobinopathies and hemolytic anemias, and other neglected tropical diseases, with HIV/AIDS and malaria being most prominent in specific regions. Projections indicate anemia cases and YLD counts will rise consistently from 2022 to 2030, while ASPR and age-standardized YLD rates will decline.ConclusionAnemia among WRA is a major public health burden worldwide with persistent regional and socioeconomic disparities. Mitigating this burden requires continued efforts addressing underlying causes, reducing socioeconomic inequities, and improving access to healthcare and nutritional interventions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1588496/fullanemia burdenwomen of reproductive ageGlobal Burden of Disease Studyepidemiologyprojections |
| spellingShingle | Wenshuai Zheng Bo Peng Yamei Wu Lixun Gauan Shenyu Wang Hongmei Ning Global, regional, and national anemia burden among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) from 1990 to 2021: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 Frontiers in Nutrition anemia burden women of reproductive age Global Burden of Disease Study epidemiology projections |
| title | Global, regional, and national anemia burden among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) from 1990 to 2021: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 |
| title_full | Global, regional, and national anemia burden among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) from 1990 to 2021: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 |
| title_fullStr | Global, regional, and national anemia burden among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) from 1990 to 2021: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Global, regional, and national anemia burden among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) from 1990 to 2021: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 |
| title_short | Global, regional, and national anemia burden among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) from 1990 to 2021: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 |
| title_sort | global regional and national anemia burden among women of reproductive age 15 49 years from 1990 to 2021 an analysis of the global burden of disease study 2021 |
| topic | anemia burden women of reproductive age Global Burden of Disease Study epidemiology projections |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1588496/full |
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