# Global burden of disease attributable to high fasting plasma glucose from 1990 to 2021: a spatiotemporal analysis of global burden of disease 2021

**Authors:** Nan Wang, YuYing Wang, QianQian Lv, ZhaoXia Zhang, WenJuan Yang, Jie Wang, Jie Zhang, Nuerbiya Asihaer, Ya Shi, Lu Zhang, JingYi Gao, Ying Xing

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2026.1679255 · Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine · 2026-02-17

## TL;DR

This study analyzed the global health impact of high fasting blood sugar from 1990 to 2021 and predicted future trends, showing that diabetes and related diseases remain major contributors.

## Contribution

The study provides a spatiotemporal analysis of the global disease burden due to high fasting plasma glucose and projects future trends using GBD 2021 data.

## Key findings

- Diabetes mellitus was the leading cause of disease burden from high fasting plasma glucose.
- China had the highest number of deaths and disability-adjusted life years due to high fasting plasma glucose.
- Projections show a decline in mortality rates but an increase in disability-adjusted life years.

## Abstract

This study comprehensively assessed the disease burden attributable to high fasting plasma glucose (HFPG) from 1990 to 2021 and projected its future trends over the next 30 years.

The analysis was based on data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study, including mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR), and age-standardized DALY rates (ASDR). The DisMod-MR 2.1 model was used to estimate the disease burden attributable to HFPG from 1990 to 2021. In addition, an age-period-cohort model was applied to project the disease burden for 2051.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) remained the leading cause of HFPG-attributable burden, with an ASDR of 916.14 (95% UI: 776.14–1,096.55) and an ASMR of 19.61 (95% UI: 18.08–20.82) per 100,000 population. Ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke also contributed substantially to global mortality and morbidity. North Africa and the Middle East, along with Oceania, reported the highest regional burdens. China recorded the highest number of deaths (956,264.44) and DALYs (27,655,530.55). Males and individuals aged ≥75 years experienced disproportionately higher burdens. Projections indicated a global decline in ASMR but a continued increase in ASDR, with persistent sex disparities.

DM, IHD, and stroke were the primary contributors to the HFPG-attributable disease burden. Although ASMR is projected to decline, the continued rise in ASDR underscores the need for strengthened prevention strategies and health system responses.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** diabetes mellitus (MONDO:0005015), ischemic heart disease (MONDO:0024644), stroke (MONDO:0005098)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** ASDR (MESH:C536766), type 2 diabetes (MESH:D003924), stroke (MESH:D020521), retinopathy (MESH:D058437), chronic non-communicable diseases (MESH:D000073296), tuberculosis (MESH:D014376), diabetic nephropathy (MESH:D003928), metabolic diseases (MESH:D008659), liver cancer (MESH:D006528), glucose (MESH:D018149), blindness (MESH:D001766), chronic disease (MESH:D002908), communicable diseases (MESH:D003141), Disease (MESH:D004194), complications (MESH:D008107), hyperglycemia (MESH:D006943), vision loss (MESH:D014786), death (MESH:D003643), colorectal cancer (MESH:D015179), mitochondrial dysfunction (MESH:D028361), pancreatic cancer (MESH:D010190), Alzheimer's disease (MESH:D000544), HFPG (MESH:D007003), cardiovascular complications (MESH:D002318), DM (MESH:D003920), COVID-19 (MESH:D000086382), IHD (MESH:D017202), cancers (MESH:D009369), prediabetes (MESH:D011236), CKD (MESH:D051436)
- **Chemicals:** advanced glycation end products (MESH:D017127), alcohol (MESH:D000438), glucose (MESH:D005947), HFPG (-)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

5 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12953428/full.md

## References

30 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12953428/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12953428