Global, regional, and national burden of gallbladder and biliary tract diseases: A systematic analysis of prevalence, incidence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years with projections to 2050.

Backgrounds/Aims: Gallbladder and biliary tract diseases include benign diseases of the gallbladder and biliary (BGB) as well as malignant neoplasms of the gallbladder and biliary tract (MGB). This study aimed to evaluate the global epidemiological trends and risk factors of gallbladder and biliary tract diseases, and to forecast their future trajectory. Methods: The estimated annual percentage change from 1990 to 2021 was calculated to evaluate trends in the age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR), incidence rate (ASIR), death rate (ASDR), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of gallbladder and biliary diseases. Results: At a regional level, higher socio-demographic index was linked to increased ASPR and ASIR for both BGB and MGB. In terms of geography, Central Europe reported the highest ASPR and ASIR among BGB patients. For MGB, the High-income Asia Pacific region demonstrated the highest ASPR, ASIR, and ASDR. Among individual countries, Honduras, Mexico, and Romania exhibited the greatest ASPR among those with BGB in 2021. The Republic of Korea reported the highest ASPR for MGB. In addition, Chile, Republic of Korea, and Thailand had a notably high ASIR, ASDR, and age-standardized DALYs for MGB. Female were more frequently affected by BGB than males. Conclusions: Despite a decline in age-standardized incidence and mortality rates, gallbladder and biliary tract diseases still impose a considerable health burden worldwide. Their prevalence demonstrates substantial regional, socioeconomic, age, and sex differences. Global health practitioners and policymakers should focus on timely identification of high-risk groups and initiation of targeted prevention strategies.