Journal article
Global burden of adverse effects of medical treatment from 1990 to 2021: a Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine, v 41(2)
01 Mar 2026
PMID: 41850226
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Background/Aims
This study aims to evaluate the global burden of adverse effects of medical treatment (AEMT) using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2021.
Methods
Data were extracted from the GBD 2021, covering 204 countries/territories from 1990 to 2021. AEMT was defined using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes, encompassing complications from medical procedures, treatments, or healthcare exposures. Estimates were categorized into fatal and non-fatal outcomes and stratified by age, sex, year, and covariates, including the Socio-demographic Index (SDI). Mortality-incidence ratios (MIRs), defined as the ratio of mortality calculated by dividing the number of deaths by the total incident cases, were analyzed.
Results
In 2021, the global age-standardized prevalence, incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and mortality rates of AEMT were 11.48 (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 8.86–14.13), 150.44 (131.19–171.81), 64.19 (51.06–73.11), and 1.53 (1.29–1.68) per 100,000 population, respectively. DALY rates were highest in the early neonatal group (4,789.47 per 100,000 population [95% UI, 3,682.00–5,963.30]), while mortality rates followed a U-shaped pattern across age groups. In 2021, MIRs were highest at both ends of the age range: the early neonatal group (0.58 [95% UI, 0.55–0.58]) and the 95+ age group (0.05 [0.04–0.06]). This pattern was consistent across all SDI quintiles, with higher MIRs observed in lower SDI quintiles.
Conclusions
The significantly higher prevalence and incidence rates of AEMT among the older population in high SDI quintiles, compared to lower SDI quintiles, could be attributed to the healthcare overutilization, highlighting the need for policy adjustments.
Metrics
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Details
- Title
- Global burden of adverse effects of medical treatment from 1990 to 2021: a Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
- Creators
- AEMT Collaborators (Collaboration)Yi Deun JeongSeoyoung ParkWonwoo JangMohammed A Alsabri - Drexel University, College of MedicineElochukwu Ezenwankwo - Drexel University, Health Management and Policy
- Publication Details
- The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine, v 41(2)
- Publisher
- KOREAN ASSOC INTERNAL MEDICINE
- Number of pages
- 17
- Grant note
- Gates FoundationAustralian National Health and Medical Research CouncilQueensland Department of Health, Australia - Ministry of Science and ICT: RS-2024-00509257, IITP-2024-RS-2024-00438239 Ministry of Health Welfare: RS-2025-02220492
This study was funded by the Gates Foundation, Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, and Queensland Department of Health, Australia. This work was supported by the Yonsei Fellowship, funded by Lee Youn Jae (to JIS). This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (RS-2024-00509257 and IITP-2024-RS-2024-00438239 to DKY) and the Ministry of Health & Welfare (RS-2025-02220492 to DKY), Republic of Korea. The funder of the study had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing of the report. All authors had full access to the study data and had final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Academic Unit
- College of Medicine; Health Management and Policy
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001717733600001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105033731434
- Other Identifier
- 991022170458904721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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Source: SDGs in the Output
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Medicine, General & Internal