The global, regional, and national burdens of maternal sepsis and other maternal infections and trends from 1990 to 2021 and future trend predictions: results from the Global Burden of Disease study 2021

• DOI: 10.1186/s12884-025-07409-2
• Publication Date: 2025-03-14T10:24:53Z
• Authors: Qilin Hu; Lvming Wang; Qianmin Chen; Zhiping Wang

Maternal sepsis and other maternal infections (MSMIs) significantly contribute to morbidity mortality worldwide, posing critical challenges due their rapid progression severe outcomes. Data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study, covering 204 countries territories, were used evaluate incidence, death, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) MSMI. Statistical methods included joinpoint regression, age-period-cohort analysis, decomposition frontier ARIMA model forecasting. From 1990 2021, global MSMI incidence decreased 22.45 million 19.05 million, with age-standardized rate (ASR) dropping 764.03 (95% UI: 573.01–970.54) 494.19 377.34–623.90) per 100,000 people. High-SDI regions saw significant reductions, while low-SDI experienced increases. Women aged 20–24 consistently had highest DALYs. Iron deficiency was a risk factor, especially in lower SDI regions. Decomposition analysis showed that epidemiological changes population growth major drivers, particularly Age-period-cohort revealed women 20–29 as most vulnerable, notable improvements after 2000 progressively decreasing risks younger cohorts. Frontier higher-SDI greater improvement potential. forecasting suggests continued declines cases ASR through 2040. While progress has been made globally, persist, including rising regions, vulnerability 20–29, impact iron deficiency. Efforts address these improve healthcare infrastructure are further reduce enhance health