Burden of Fungal Skin Diseases in Five East Asian Countries: An Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Introduction: The unique natural and social environments of East Asia may shape the characteristics of fungal skin diseases. However, there is a notable absence of thorough comparative analyses on this subject.

Methods: This research undertook a comprehensive analysis of the epidemiology and disease burden of fungal dermatoses across five East Asian countries (China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Mongolia) via the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database from 1990 to 2021. Descriptive statistical analyses, joinpoint analyses and age-period-cohort (APC) modelling techniques were applied. Systematic assessments were conducted for trends in the incidence, prevalence and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of fungal skin diseases within each country.

Results: This study revealed an overall declining trend in the burden of fungal skin diseases across five East Asian countries from 1990 to 2021, with a particularly marked decrease from 2000 to 2010. In China, the average annual percentage change (AAPC) was -0.1333%, whereas in Japan, it was -0.0281%. However, a notable rise in DALYs among individuals aged 70 and above, particularly in China and Japan. Conversely, Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Mongolia experienced less substantial declines in incidence. These shifts underscore marked intercountry differences, illustrating the influence of socioeconomic factors and health policies.

Conclusion: Fungal skin diseases remain a public threat in East Asian countries. It is important to develop regional, targeted strategies for the prevention and control of fungal skin diseases, with the potential to improve the effectiveness of public health interventions and reduce the regional burden of disease.