Cardiovascular disease burden in the North Africa and Middle East region: an analysis of the global burden of disease study 1990–2021

Aims: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the North Africa and Middle East (NAME) region. Due to the paucity of research on this issue, we aimed to estimate the burden of CVD and its attributable risk factors in the NAME region. Methods and results: Data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) were retrieved to estimate the incidence, prevalence, deaths, years of life lost, years lived with disability, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for CVD across 21 countries and both sexes. From 1990 to 2021, the incidence of CVD increased, but the age-standardized incidence rate slightly declined. The prevalence of CVD rose, with stable age-standardized prevalence rates. Additionally, the age-standardized DALY rate decreased from 11421.8 to 7353.8 per 100,000 people. Men consistently had higher rates of incidence, prevalence, deaths, and DALYs compared to women. Ischemic heart disease, stroke, and hypertensive heart disease were the leading causes of DALYs. Furthermore, high systolic blood pressure, dietary risks, and high LDL cholesterol were the top risk factors across NAME countries. countries with a history of war or ongoing conflict experience higher rates of death, disease burden (DALYs), and disease incidence compared to countries without such a history. Conclusion: Despite the Progress in reducing the CVD burden in the NAME region, CVD remains a major public health problem, specifically due to significant sex disparities and various socio-economic factors. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions addressing these disparities and socio-economic determinants. Clinical trial number: not applicable.