OBJECTIVES: To analyze the disease burden and inequalities of lower extremity peripheral artery disease (LEPAD) among people aged 40 and above in the Belt and Road partner countries from 1990 to 2021. METHODS: Data were retrieved from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 database. The age-standardized prevalence rates, mortality rates, and the annual rate of years lived with disability (YLDs) of LEPAD were analyzed. Trends were measured using the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC), and the slope index of inequality (SII) and concentration index were used to quantify the absolute and relative inequalities. RESULTS: In 2021, the age-standardized prevalence and mortality rates of LEPAD were 3168.26/10⁵ and 3.09/10⁵, increasing by 4.30% and 19.31% compared to 1990, while YLDs rates decreased by 4.00%. Females had higher age-standardized prevalence and YLDs rates, while males had higher mortality rates. The EAPC for prevalence rates was slightly higher in males (0.22%) than in females (0.17%); while the EAPC of age-standardized mortality rate was 2.02% for females, compared to 1.45% for males. From 1990 to 2021, the age-standardized YLDs rates decreased from 16.23/10⁵ to 15.58/10⁵, with a faster decline in females (－0.12%) than in males (－0.06%). LEPAD prevalence varied across countries, with higher burden in Europe and faster growth in Gulf states. Higher socio-demographic index countries had higher prevalence. Inequity improved, with the SII at 52.90/10⁵ and concentration index at 0.038 in 2021. Gender disparities persisted, with concentration index increased to 0.058 in females and reduced to －0.026 in males. CONCLUSIONS LEPAD prevalence and mortality among people aged 40 and above in the Belt and Road partner countries increased, while YLDs rates decreased from 1990 to 2021. Significant differences among people exist depending on gender and country, highlighting the need for enhanced screening, health education, and shared public health strategies across the Belt and Road partner countries.
Humans ; Peripheral Arterial Disease/mortality* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Aged ; Prevalence ; Lower Extremity/blood supply* ; Global Burden of Disease ; Cost of Illness

Objective This article aims to investigate the association between hypertension and the risk of GSD by conducting a national multicenter study,a systematic review,and a meta-analysis.Methods The study was conducted in three stages.In the first stage,subjects were recruited for health examination in four hospitals in Chengdu,Tianjin,Beijing,and Chongqing,China,from 2015 to 2020,and the multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between hypertension and the risk of GSD in each center.In the second stage,Embase,PubMed,Wanfang Data,VIP,and CNKI databases were searched for related studies published up to May 2021,and a meta-analysis was conducted to further verify such association.In the third stage,the random effects model was used for pooled analysis of the results of the multicenter cross-sectional study and the findings of previous literature.Results A total of 633 948 participants were enrolled in the cross-sectional study,and the prevalence rate of GSD was 7.844%.The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension was positively associated with the risk of GSD(P＜0.05).Subgroup analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the association between hypertension and GSD between individuals with different sexes,ages,and subtypes of GSD.A total of 80 articles were included in the systematic review and the meta-analysis,and the results showed that the risk of GSD was increased by 1.022 times for every 10 mmHg increase in diastolic pressure and 1.014 times for every 10 mmHg increase in systolic pressure.Conclusion Hypertension significantly increases the risk of GSD,and the findings of this study will provide a basis for the etiology of GSD and the identification of high-risk groups.