Global burden and cross-country inequalities of alcoholic cardiomyopathy: A 1990–2021 analysis

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM) remains a significant yet understudied contributor to global cardiovascular disease, with substantial socioeconomic influences on its epidemiology. A study investigated the global burden, temporal trends, and health inequalities of ACM across 204 countries.
Using Global Burden of Disease 2021 data (1990–2021), researchers analysed age-standardised mortality (ASMR), prevalence (ASPR), and disability-adjusted life years (ASDR) for populations aged ≥15 years. Trend analysis employed the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC), while inequality metrics assessed socioeconomic disparities using the socio-demographic index (SDI).
Globally, ACM caused 47,073 deaths and 2.19 million DALYs in 2021, with an overall decreasing trend (ASMR EAPC: −1.72 %). High-middle SDI regions bore the highest burden (ASDR: 88.27/100,000), particularly Eastern Europe (ASDR: 510.47). A distinct nonlinear relationship with SDI was identified: burden peaked at SDI≈0.75, with Eastern Europe showing the steepest rise or decline. Inequality analysis revealed persistent concentration in high-SDI regions (positive concentration indices: 0.51–0.60), though relative inequalities decreased over time. Kazakhstan exhibited the most rapid burden increase (ASMR EAPC: +11.15 %), while Southern Latin America showed the greatest decline (ASMR EAPC: −6.69 %).
ACM disparities are strongly linked to socioeconomic development, highlighting the need for targeted alcohol policies in high-burden regions and equitable healthcare resource allocation.
Source: Zheng, M., Sun, C., Li, M., Xiang, H., Ren, H., & Cheng, J. (2026) Global burden and cross-country inequalities of alcoholic cardiomyopathy: A 1990–2021 analysis, International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention, 28.