Tackling global inequalities in maternal hypertensive disorders: trends and the impact of public health emergencies, 1990–2021

TL;DR

This study examines global inequalities in maternal hypertensive disorders from 1990 to 2021, highlighting how public health emergencies like the pandemic worsened health disparities.

Contribution

The study introduces a comprehensive analysis of maternal hypertensive disorder trends, incorporating public health emergency impacts and socio-demographic disparities.

Findings

Maternal hypertensive disorder burden decreased more rapidly in low-SDI regions compared to high-SDI regions.

The pandemic significantly slowed progress in reducing maternal hypertensive disorder burden in low-SDI regions.

Health inequalities increased in lower-SDI populations despite overall global improvements.

Abstract

Despite progress made under the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), inequalities in global health persist, particularly in the maternal health. Public health emergencies also affect health equity. This research examined long-term disease burden trends (1990–2021) of maternal hypertensive disorders (MHD), with a focus on the influence of age and socio-demographic index (SDI) differences, as well as short-term disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, to inform more equitable maternal health policies.

Using the Global Burden of Disease database (2021), this study conducted a systematic examination of indicators of MHD: incidence, maternal mortality ratio (MMR), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). All analyses were standardized for age-specific fertility rates (ASFR). Analyses included frontier analysis to identify achievable health outcomes, decomposition analysis to identify key factors, and age-period-cohort (APC) model to assess independent effects. Health inequalities were measured using the slope index of inequality (SII) and concentration curve. The secular trends were characterized using the average annual percentage change (AAPC), while the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was assessed through the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC).

The APC model revealed elevated risks for adolescent and older pregnancies, with incidence fluctuating over 32 years but MMR steadily declining. Disease burden generally decreased with higher SDI levels. Decomposition analysis suggested that demographic factors increased the burden, while epidemiology mitigated it. Frontier analysis indicated effective maternal health control in Canada but Cameroon required progress. While the SII in 2021 declined [−2003.35 (95% CI: −2184.75 to −1821.96)], concentration curves revealed increased relative inequality in lower-SDI populations. Over 32 years, the global MHD burden declined, with a reduction in low-SDI regions [AAPC: −29.46 (95% CI: −30.06 to −28.85)] approximately 24 times that of high-SDI regions. However, the pandemic significantly slowed the decline in low- and low-middle SDI regions.

This study highlights marked disparities in the disease burden among age groups across diverse SDI regions. Public health emergencies have intensified existing health inequalities and exposed gaps in healthcare resource distribution. Implementing targeted interventions and reinforcing maternal care during emergencies are critical for enhancing maternal health and advancing health equity.

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