To systematically investigate the association patterns between the global and regional burden of GERD and specific socioeconomic indicators, such as income level, education, and healthcare access, from 1990 to 2021.
Key Findings:
Global GERD cases increased by 77.53% from 441.57 million in 1990 to 783.95 million in 2019, highlighting a significant public health challenge.
Geographic heterogeneity in GERD prevalence, with highest rates in Latin America, South Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East, indicating a need for targeted interventions.
A significant correlation between SDI and GERD burden, indicating socioeconomic factors influence disease prevalence, necessitating further investigation.
Interpretation:
The findings highlight the growing burden of GERD globally and underscore the importance of socioeconomic factors in its epidemiology, suggesting that public health policies must address these determinants.
Limitations:
The study may not account for all confounding factors influencing GERD prevalence, such as genetic predispositions and lifestyle choices.
Potential biases in data collection and reporting across different regions may affect the accuracy of the findings.
Conclusion:
The study provides insights for developing global GERD prevention and control policies, emphasizing the urgent need for addressing socioeconomic determinants to improve health outcomes.
