During the pandemic, many healthcare systems were strained or shut down, interrupting routine care and management for chronic and infectious diseases. To better understand the global fallout, researchers in China analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. They simulated the burden of 174 health conditions across 204 countries and territories for the years 2020 and 2021, focusing on measures such as incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).
Mental health disorders saw one of the sharpest increases. New cases of depressive disorders rose by 23% in 5-14-year-olds, the study found. DALY rates for depressive and anxiety disorders increased by 12% and 14% respectively, with particularly high rates among females. Similarly, age-standardised incidence and prevalence rates for depressive disorders rose by 14% and 10%, while anxiety disorders saw a 15% rise.
Malaria deaths among children under five surged by 14%, and overall age-standardised DALY rates for malaria increased by 12%. Cardiovascular conditions such as ischaemic heart disease and stroke also recorded significant increases, particularly among those aged 70 and above.
The researchers noted that their findings may be limited by inconsistent data quality, underreporting, and diagnostic delays. Nonetheless, the breadth of the analysis offers crucial insights into the pandemic’s broader impact.
They concluded: “These findings underscore the urgent need to strengthen health system resilience, enhance integrated surveillance, and adopt syndemic-informed strategies to support equitable preparedness for future public health emergencies.”
Reference: Chen C, Zhou W, Cui Y, Cao K, Chen M, Qu R et al. Global, regional, and national characteristics of the main causes of increased disease burden due to the covid-19 pandemic: time-series modelling analysis of global burden of disease study 2021 BMJ 2025; 390 :e083868 doi:10.1136/bmj-2024-083868
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