AUTHOR=Liu Ming , Liao Jing , Gou Yunpeng , Yang Ping 

TITLE=Global, regional, and national burden of acute glomerulonephritis in children and adolescents: 1990–2021 analysis and future projections

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1677679

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2025.1677679

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=BackgroundAcute glomerulonephritis (AGN) remains a significant issue in global health, yet its burden among children and adolescents has not been sufficiently characterized. This study aims to systematically estimate the global, regional, and national burden of AGN, as well as its temporal trends from 1990 to 2021.MethodsThis study utilized data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study, focusing on incidence rates, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and mortality among individuals under 20 years of age. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were employed to assess temporal trends, and statistical analyses were conducted to examine correlations with the Socio-Demographic Index (SDI). Additionally, we performed decomposition and inequality analyses, along with Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort (BAPC) analyses, to evaluate trends and distributions related to the burden of AGN.ResultsFrom 1990 to 2021, the global burden of AGN among children and adolescents remained significantly high. In 2021, there were approximately 170,584 new cases, representing a decrease compared to earlier years, with an age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) of 6.47 per 100,000 (95% UI: 4.79–8.45). The EAPC for incidence showed a declining trend of −1.03% (95% CI: −1.15, −0.92). The total number of DALYs associated with AGN was 59,588.50 (95% UI: 32,925.73–79,649.94), with an age-standardized DALY rate of 2.26 per 100,000 (95% UI: 1.25–3.02), demonstrating a significant decline represented by an EAPC of −4.33% (95% CI: −4.46, −4.21). Gender differences were minimal; however, disparities across SDI regions were pronounced, with middle SDI regions exhibiting the highest incidence rate at 8.87 per 100,000, and increasing incidence rates observed in lower-middle and low SDI regions. Notably, China reported the highest number of cases, followed by Brazil and India. Furthermore, absolute inequality among SDI countries improved from 1990 to 2021, while relative inequality intensified during the same period.ConclusionThis study underscores the substantial and evolving burden of AGN among children and adolescents, highlighting the urgent need for targeted public health strategies and interventions to address disparities in disease burden and improve health outcomes in vulnerable populations.