Global, regional, and national burden and trends of mental disorders in women of childbearing age: a systematic analysis based on the global burden of disease study 2021

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to provide a comprehensive picture of mental disorder burden in women of childbearing age (WCBA), providing scientific evidence for implementing disease prevention and control strategies. METHODS: Based on the data from the Global Burden of Disease study 2021, the age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPR) and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) rates (ASDR) of mental disorders in WCBA, along with their temporal trends, age-period-cohort effects and projection of epidemiological trajectory over the next 10 years were comprehensively analyzed. RESULTS: In 2021, there were an estimated 343.22 million mental disorder cases in WCBA, with a global ASPR of 17573.61 per 100,000 population and ASDR of 2696.58 per 100,000 population worldwide. Anxiety disorders accounted for the highest prevalence proportion (37.49%), while depressive disorders were the leading DALYs contributors (39.91%) in mental disorders. From 1990 to 2021, the global mental disorder burden showed significant upward trends, with ASPR and ASDR rising at annual average percent changes (AAPC) of 0.35 and 0.38 respectively. The deterioration was more pronounced in anxiety disorders (AAPC 0.74 and 0.73), eating disorders (AAPC 0.42 and 0.41) and depressive disorders (AAPC 0.39 and 0.45). The APC analysis indicated that the disease burden gradually increased with age, and the relative risk peaked during the period of 2017-2021. The projections suggest that the global burden of mental disorders will persistently rise from 2022 to 2031 in WCBA. Specifically, the ASPR and ASDR are projected to reach 23872.35 per 100,000 population and 3570.07 per 100,000 population in 2031, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The global burden of mental disorders is particularly severe in WCBA and still on the rise. Innovative prevention and healthcare strategies are urgently needed to reduce the burden of highly prevalent, rapidly increasing diseases in high-risk areas.