Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40604507›Full record

ArticleBMC geriatrics2025

Global burden of disease and its risk factors for adults aged 70 and older across 204 countries and territories: a comprehensive analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Qin-Fen Chen, Chao Ni, Yalan Jiang, Lifen Chen, Hetong Liao, Jiaqi Gao, Xuemei Qin, Sipei Pan, Xiaoqian Luan, Yili Wu and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC geriatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 21 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
21citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

21 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. [Walkability in older age: built environment factors and function-sensitive assessment in urban areas].Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Qin-Fen Chen *Medical Care Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
Chao Ni *The Center for Geriatric Medicine, Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
Yalan JiangThe Center for Geriatric Medicine, Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
Lifen ChenThe Center for Geriatric Medicine, Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
Hetong LiaoThe Center for Geriatric Medicine, Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
Jiaqi GaoThe Center for Geriatric Medicine, Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
Xuemei QinThe Center for Geriatric Medicine, Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
Sipei PanThe Center for Geriatric Medicine, Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
Xiaoqian LuanThe Center for Geriatric Medicine, Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
Yili WuThe Center for Geriatric Medicine, Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China. wuyili@wmu.edu.cn.
Xiao-Dong ZhouMAFLD Research Center, Department of Hepatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China. zhouxiaodong@wmu.edu.cn.
Weihong SongThe Center for Geriatric Medicine, Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China. weihong@wmu.edu.cn.

Funding

the National Natural Science Foundation of China 82293642 and 82150710557the Science and Technology Plan Project of Wenzhou Municipality 2022Y0726
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe global older population has been rapidly increasing in recent decades, presenting substantial economic and social challenges.

aimsThis study aims to examine the global disease burden and the associated risk factors among the population aged 70 and older across different regions.

methodsData from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) database were used to analyze global deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and average annual percentage changes to assess disease burden and associated risk factors.

resultsIn 2021, the global population aged 70 and older reached 494.4 (95%UI 482.1-508.2) million. Death and DALY rates have declined by 9.2% (95%CI 5.3-12.7) and 11.0% (95%CI 7.7-14.0) from 1990 to 2021, respectively. However, the global death rate increased to 7,062 per 100,000 population, with DALY rates rising to 125,042 per 100,000. A strong correlation exists between socio-demographic index (SDI) and DALY rates. Regions with lower SDI levels, particularly low and low-middle SDI regions, showed higher DALY rates, reaching 189,563 and 165,080 per 100,000, respectively. The leading causes of death among the older included ischemic heart disease, stroke, COVID-19, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The primary risk factors contributing to DALYs were high systolic blood pressure, air pollution, and tobacco use.

conclusionsThe global disease burden among adults aged 70 and older has shown declines in death and DALY rates, yet remains a significant challenge exacerbated by population growth, especially in less developed regions. Implementing preventive strategies that target primary risk factors early and enhancing treatment of underlying conditions are crucial.

Indexed as

Global Burden of DiseaseAgedAged, 80 and overDisability-Adjusted Life YearsFemaleGlobal HealthHumansMaleRisk FactorsAgingCauses of deathGlobal disease burdenOlder populationRisk factors

Identifiers

PMID40604507
PMCPMC12220231

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.