Evaluating the global, regional, and national impact of syphilis: results from the global burden of disease study 2019

Abstract

Syphilis is a global public health concern. This study aimed to assess the global and regional burden of syphilis from 1990 to 2019. Disease burden was evaluated using disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) and prevalence. Data were extracted from the 2019 global burden of disease Study, an open database available for download. Age-standardized rates (ASR) and estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC) were calculated to evaluate the syphilis burden over time. In 2019, the total number of prevalent cases of syphilis was 49.71 million worldwide. The ASR of prevalence was stable from 1990 to 2019 with an EAPC of 0.00 (95% CI − 0.10–0.11). The number of DALYs caused by syphilis was 7.36 million in 2019, reflecting a reduction of 16.38% compared with that in 1990 (8.80 million). The ASR of DALYs exhibited a decreasing trend from 1990 to 2019 (EAPC = − 1.01; 95% CI − 1.19 to − 0.84), with the highest rates observed in the younger age group (< 14 years old). In 2019, the highest ASR of DALYs was found in low sociodemographic index (SDI) regions (239.21/100,000), and the lowest in high SDI regions (3.14/100,000). Generally, the ASR of DALYs decreased as the SDI increased. The top three countries with the highest ASR of DALYs for syphilis were the Solomon Islands, Equatorial Guinea, and Liberia. While the global prevalence of syphilis remained persistently high from 1990 to 2019, there has been a recent decrease in the ASR of DALYs. Increased attention should be dedicated to younger populations and regions characterized by low SDIs.