Assessing the impact of high body mass index on acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A 30-year global analysis.

Abstract

e18536 Background: The global burden of diseases linked to modifiable risk factors is a critical focus of public health research. Among these, high body mass index (BMI) is a well-established risk factor for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL). Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) and Deaths serve as essential metrics for assessing the societal impact of this risk factor over time. This study examines the trends in DALYs and Deaths attributable to ALL from 1990 to 2021 and explores its correlation with high BMI. Methods: We utilized data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database, focusing on DALYs and deaths attributable to high BMI. Data were stratified by year and aggregated globally to simplify trends over three decades. DALYs represent the combined years of life lost (YLL) and years lived with disability (YLD), while deaths directly quantify mortality. Analytical and visualization techniques included time-series analysis to evaluate trends and scatterplot correlation analysis to explore the relationship between DALYs and Deaths. Results: From 1990 to 2021, DALYs attributed to high BMI exhibited a steady increase, rising from approximately 100,000 in 1990 to over 150,000 in 2021, reflecting an annual upward trend. Conversely, deaths remained relatively stable, ranging from approximately 2,500 to 4,500 annually, with a modest increase over the study period. The Age-Standardized Mortality Ratio (ASMR) shows a gradual increase over the years, starting at 0.83 in 1990 and reaching higher levels in subsequent years. This indicates a consistent upward trend in mortality rates across the observed period. The scatterplot analysis revealed a strong positive linear correlation between DALYs and Deaths, suggesting a consistent relationship between these metrics despite differences in magnitude. Notably, the trends highlight that while mortality has seen limited growth, the growing DALY burden underscores increasing non-fatal impairments and life-years lost due to disability. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the escalating burden of high BMI as a risk factor for ALL, primarily driven by a rise in DALYs rather than a proportional increase in mortality. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to mitigate high BMI's impact, emphasizing preventative measures and improved management strategies to reduce both the fatal and non-fatal burden associated with ALL. Further research is warranted to assess region-specific disparities and develop tailored public health strategies. Global trends in DALYs (disease adjusted life years), age-standardized mortality rates attributable to high BMI in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (1990-2021). Year DALYs Deaths ASMR 1990 86252.83 2137.18 0.040068218 2000 103867.80 2638.41 0.043259821 2010 127109.20 3318.04 0.047735049 2020 146917.30 4038.08 0.051621003