by The recently published Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 in The Lancet sheds light on the evolving health landscape and the factors contributing to it. The study reveals a concerning trend of an increasing number of people affected by risk factors related to metabolism.
Metabolism-related risk factors, including high systolic blood pressure (SBP), high fasting plasma glucose (FPG), high body mass index (BMI), high LDL cholesterol, and kidney dysfunction, have seen a significant rise since the year 2000. This trend underscores the impact of an aging population and shifting lifestyles on a global scale.
According to the GBD 2021, there was a 49.4% increase in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) – the measure of healthy life years lost due to poor health and premature death – linked to Metabolism-related risk factors between 2000 and 2021.
Among individuals aged 15-49, the burden of ill health attributable to a high BMI and high FPG (high blood sugar) – major risk factors for diabetes – has significantly increased. Other metabolic risk factors, such as high SBP and high LDL cholesterol, also ranked among the top 10 risk factors for this age group.
Dr. Michael Brauer, an Affiliate Professor at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), emphasized that while these metabolic risk factors are inherently related to metabolism, they can often be influenced by various lifestyle factors, particularly among younger generations.
The study’s findings underscore the importance of addressing preventable, non-communicable diseases through modifiable risk factors. By implementing effective policies and education initiatives, we can proactively alter the course of global health.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
