Analysis of Neonatal Disease Burden in China from 2012 to 2021 Based on the 2021 Global Burden of Disease Data

Abstract

This study aimed to provide a reference basis for the prevention and treatment of neonatal diseases in China by examining the incidence of neonatal diseases across three dimensions: trend, region, and gender. Using the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database, data on the incidence rates of neonatal premature birth, neonatal encephalopathy due to birth asphyxia and trauma, hemolytic disease and other neonatal jaundice, and neonatal sepsis and other neonatal infections from 2012 to 2021 were collected. The incidence rates of neonatal diseases in China demonstrated a steady decline over the decade. The rates for the four categories of diseases decreased by 1.55%, 7.97%, 26.96%, and 26.53%, respectively. The average incidence rates for these disease categories in China were 16,522.28/10⁵, 849.15/10⁵, 434.16/10⁵, and 218.62/10⁵, respectively, which were 56.04%, 14.6%, 83.87%, and 23% lower than the global averages. Regarding gender, the risk of neonatal diseases was higher in males than in females. Male patients accounted for 56%, 60%, 55%, and 63% of cases for the four disease categories, exceeding the global male patient proportions. The findings indicate that while the incidence rates of neonatal diseases in China continue to decline steadily, there remains a significant gap compared with developed countries. Furthermore, the significantly higher incidence rates in male newborns warrant further investigation.