Abstract
BACKGROUND: Encephalitis is a life-threatening neurological disease with a major impact on global public health. This study uses the Global Burden of Disease 2021 (GBD 2021) data to assess the disease burden of encephalitis and provide evidence for targeted public health interventions. METHODS: This study utilized the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 data analysis platform to examine trends in the prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of encephalitis from 1990 to 2021, categorizing data by sex, age, and socio-demographic index (SDI). Dynamic patterns were analyzed at global, regional, and national levels. The Joinpoint Regression Program aided comparative analysis by examining annual percentage change (APC) and identifying significant turning points. Spearman's rank correlation analysis quantified associations between the encephalitis burden and SDI. RESULTS: From 1990 to 2021, global trends in encephalitis showed declines in prevalence, incidence, mortality, and DALYs. During this period, males had a higher age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) than females. Notably, children under five experienced the highest ASIR and age-standardized disability-adjusted life-year rate (ASDR), whereas individuals aged 95 and older had the highest ASMR. Additionally, case and age-standardized rate (ASR) varied significantly by geography, especially in lower SDI regions. At the national level, Pakistan, India, Bhutan, and Nepal faced a much higher disease burden. Finally, there was also a strong negative correlation between encephalitis ASR indicators and SDI. CONCLUSION: Overall, despite a declining global burden of encephalitis, significant disparities in disease burden persist across different countries and regions. This observation highlights a significant imbalance, underscoring the need for targeted public health strategies to effectively mitigate and address these disparities.