Analysis of the global burden of neonatal disorders and risk factors from 1990 to 2021: findings from the global burden of disease study 2021.

Background: Neonatal health represents a critical global issue, encapsulating both the advancements and challenges faced by health systems at both global and national levels. Neonatal disorders not only impose a significant disease burden, diminishing the quality of life for affected individuals, but they also contribute to substantial economic strain. Methods: This article utilizes the Global Burden of Disease 2021 database to describe the global burden of neonatal disorders in 2021 through age-standardized incidence rate, age-standardized prevalence rate, age-standardized death rate, and age-standardized disability-adjusted life years rate. Additionally, it employs the estimated annual percentage change to delineate the trends in the global burden of neonatal disorders from 1990 to 2021. Results: The global age-standardized incidence rate, age-standardized prevalence rate, age-standardized death rate, and age-standardized disability-adjusted life years rate for neonatal disorders were 437.43 (95% UI = 433.20 to 441.95) per 100,000 population, 437.43 (433.20 to 441.95), 29.57 (25.37 to 34.26), and 2941.98 (2547.76 to 3384.20), respectively. Conclusion: From 1990 to 2021, the global burden of neonatal disorders exhibited a general downward trend, with a particularly pronounced burden in South Asia and Southern Sub-Saharan Africa. Countries characterized by low socio-demographic index and low-middle socio-demographic index faced a disproportionately higher burden of neonatal disorders. Low birth weight emerged as a significant contributor to both the age-standardized death rate and the age-standardized disability-adjusted life years rate associated with global neonatal disorders. Therefore, health departments across various nations should prioritize the enhancement of healthcare systems and the quality of care to alleviate the burden of neonatal disorders.