Global, Regional and National Burden of Hemolytic Disease and Other Neonatal Jaundice, 1980/90‐2021, and Projections to 2050: A Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background and Aims Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn and other forms of neonatal jaundice remain important causes of morbidity and mortality among children under five worldwide. Despite improvements in prevention and treatment such as Rh screening, phototherapy, and exchange transfusion, the burden remains uneven across regions. This study assessed global, regional, and national trends in incidence, prevalence, mortality, Disability‐Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), Years of Life Lost (YLLs), and Years Lived with Disability (YLDs) from 1980/1990 to 2021 using Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 data. Methods Data were obtained from the GBD 2021 study via the Global Health Data Exchange. Estimates of incidence, prevalence, deaths, DALYs, YLLs, and YLDs among children under five were analyzed globally and by region. For consistency with data availability, incidence, prevalence, mortality, DALYs, and YLDs were analyzed for the period 1990–2021, while YLLs were additionally assessed for the extended period 1980–2021. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to evaluate temporal trends and estimate the average annual percentage change (AAPC) with 95% confidence intervals. Results Globally, the incidence of hemolytic disease and neonatal jaundice among children under five declined from 31,460.13 to 24,879.37 per 100,000 population between 1990 and 2021 (AAPC = −0.84%), while prevalence increased from 218,230.47 to 288,222.33 cases (AAPC = 0.90%). Mortality decreased from 16.59 to 5.11 per 100,000 (AAPC = −3.74%), and DALY rates declined from 1504.65 to 474.68 per 100,000 (AAPC = −3.67%). YLLs decreased from 2096.02 to 459.72 per 100,000 between 1980 and 2021 (AAPC = −3.64%), whereas YLDs increased slightly from 13.04 to 14.95 per 1000 (AAPC = 0.45%). Conclusion Over the past four decades, mortality and overall disease burden have declined substantially, reflecting improvements in neonatal care. However, increasing prevalence and YLDs indicate a continuing burden of non‐fatal complications. Marked regional disparities persist, particularly in Sub‐Saharan Africa and South Asia, highlighting the need for strengthened and equitable neonatal health services.