Burden of pulmonary arterial hypertension in children globally, regionally, and nationally (1990–2021): results from the global burden of disease study

IntroductionPediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare and severe disorder characterized by obstructive vascular changes that can lead to right heart failure. The clinical presentation and underlying causes of pediatric PAH differ significantly from those in adults, often involving co...

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Main Authors: Lili Deng, Jingxuan Xiong, Jiaoli Xu, Qinhong Li, Zugen Cheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Pediatrics
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1527281/full
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author Lili Deng
Jingxuan Xiong
Jiaoli Xu
Qinhong Li
Zugen Cheng
author_facet Lili Deng
Jingxuan Xiong
Jiaoli Xu
Qinhong Li
Zugen Cheng
author_sort Lili Deng
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionPediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare and severe disorder characterized by obstructive vascular changes that can lead to right heart failure. The clinical presentation and underlying causes of pediatric PAH differ significantly from those in adults, often involving congenital heart disease and developmental lung disorders, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Despite advances in treatment, pediatric PAH remains underrecognized globally.MethodsThis study analyzed global, regional, and national trends in pediatric PAH from 1990 to 2021 using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database.ResultsThe findings indicate a stable prevalence rate globally, with a slight increase in the absolute number of cases. Significantly, reductions were observed in both mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) associated with pediatric PAH, with mortality decreasing by 57.66% and DALYs by 63.59% over the study period, indicating progress in mitigating the disease burden. Substantial regional disparities were identified, with low-income regions, particularly Low Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) areas, experiencing the highest mortality and DALY rates. In contrast, high-middle SDI regions showed the greatest reductions in disease burden. The highest prevalence and burden were observed in South Asia, the Caribbean, and parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, with China, India, and Haiti bearing the greatest national burdens.DiscussionThese findings highlight the necessity for targeted health interventions, especially in low-resource settings, to improve early diagnosis, intervention, and treatment.
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spelling doaj-art-c29ec38cf2944b1ab98da2fcce20a5d32025-08-20T03:30:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pediatrics2296-23602025-06-011310.3389/fped.2025.15272811527281Burden of pulmonary arterial hypertension in children globally, regionally, and nationally (1990–2021): results from the global burden of disease studyLili Deng0Jingxuan Xiong1Jiaoli Xu2Qinhong Li3Zugen Cheng4Department of Cardiology, Kunming Children's Hospital, Kunming City, Yunnan, ChinaDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Kunming Children's Hospital, Kunming City, Yunnan, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, Kunming Children's Hospital, Kunming City, Yunnan, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming City, Yunnan, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, Kunming Children's Hospital, Kunming City, Yunnan, ChinaIntroductionPediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare and severe disorder characterized by obstructive vascular changes that can lead to right heart failure. The clinical presentation and underlying causes of pediatric PAH differ significantly from those in adults, often involving congenital heart disease and developmental lung disorders, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Despite advances in treatment, pediatric PAH remains underrecognized globally.MethodsThis study analyzed global, regional, and national trends in pediatric PAH from 1990 to 2021 using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database.ResultsThe findings indicate a stable prevalence rate globally, with a slight increase in the absolute number of cases. Significantly, reductions were observed in both mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) associated with pediatric PAH, with mortality decreasing by 57.66% and DALYs by 63.59% over the study period, indicating progress in mitigating the disease burden. Substantial regional disparities were identified, with low-income regions, particularly Low Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) areas, experiencing the highest mortality and DALY rates. In contrast, high-middle SDI regions showed the greatest reductions in disease burden. The highest prevalence and burden were observed in South Asia, the Caribbean, and parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, with China, India, and Haiti bearing the greatest national burdens.DiscussionThese findings highlight the necessity for targeted health interventions, especially in low-resource settings, to improve early diagnosis, intervention, and treatment.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1527281/fullpulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)public healthGBD (2021) databaseprevalencemortaltityDALYs—disability-adjusted life years
spellingShingle Lili Deng
Jingxuan Xiong
Jiaoli Xu
Qinhong Li
Zugen Cheng
Burden of pulmonary arterial hypertension in children globally, regionally, and nationally (1990–2021): results from the global burden of disease study
Frontiers in Pediatrics
pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)
public health
GBD (2021) database
prevalence
mortaltity
DALYs—disability-adjusted life years
title Burden of pulmonary arterial hypertension in children globally, regionally, and nationally (1990–2021): results from the global burden of disease study
title_full Burden of pulmonary arterial hypertension in children globally, regionally, and nationally (1990–2021): results from the global burden of disease study
title_fullStr Burden of pulmonary arterial hypertension in children globally, regionally, and nationally (1990–2021): results from the global burden of disease study
title_full_unstemmed Burden of pulmonary arterial hypertension in children globally, regionally, and nationally (1990–2021): results from the global burden of disease study
title_short Burden of pulmonary arterial hypertension in children globally, regionally, and nationally (1990–2021): results from the global burden of disease study
title_sort burden of pulmonary arterial hypertension in children globally regionally and nationally 1990 2021 results from the global burden of disease study
topic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)
public health
GBD (2021) database
prevalence
mortaltity
DALYs—disability-adjusted life years
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1527281/full
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