Global, regional, and national burden of immune-mediated inflammatory skin diseases: Insights from the GBD 2021 study

Hanyi Zhang; Wanyao Liu; Yi Xiao; Zhongling Luo; Juan Su

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2026.115731

Global, regional, and national burden of immune-mediated inflammatory skin diseases: Insights from the GBD 2021 study

iScience. 2026 Apr 15;29(6):115731. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.115731. eCollection 2026 Jun 19.

Authors

Hanyi Zhang^{1

2

3}, Wanyao Liu^{1

2

3}, Yi Xiao^{1

2

3}, Zhongling Luo^{1

2

3}, Juan Su^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Clinical Research Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan, China.
² National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan, China.
³ National Clinical Research Center of Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.

Abstract

Immune-mediated inflammatory skin diseases (IMSDs), including atopic dermatitis (AD), psoriasis (Pso), acne vulgaris (AV), and alopecia areata (AA), impose substantial but uneven global burdens. Using Global Burden of Disease 2021 estimates, we quantified incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from 1990 to 2021, assessed sociodemographic index (SDI)-related patterns, and projected trends to 2041 with ARIMA models. In 2021, these four IMSDs accounted for more than 220 million prevalent cases and over 14 million DALYs worldwide; AV contributed the largest incidence and prevalence burdens, whereas AD accounted for the greatest DALY burden. Age-standardized rates declined slightly for AD and AA but increased for Pso and AV. ASIR correlated positively with SDI for AD, Pso, and AA. Forecasts suggested modest increases for Pso and AV, relative stability for AA, and a slight decline for AD, highlighting disease-specific prevention and disability-burden priorities.

Keywords: dermatology; health sciences; medical specialty; medicine; public health.