The burden of ischemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus attributable to diet high in sugar‐sweetened beverages in China: An analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to estimate the burden of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) attributable to a diet high in sugar‐sweetened beverages (SSBs) in China from 1990 to 2017. Methods Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 were used to assess all‐age and age‐standardized, risk‐attributable mortality, years of life lost (YLL), years of life with disability (YLD), and disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs) by age, sex, year, province, and sociodemographic index (SDI). Results For total noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), 12 523 (95% uncertainty interval 776‐27 631) deaths, 305 288 (18 611‐661 847) YLL, 142 051 (64 530‐257 468) YLD, and 447 339 (132 677‐858 838) DALYs were attributable to diet high in SSBs in 2017, particularly among males. Age‐standardized, risk‐attributable mortality, YLL, YLD, and DALY rates increased distinctly by 507.3%, 410.3%, 571.0%, and 453.3% from 1990 to 2017 respectively. Age‐sex–specific, risk‐attributable mortality and YLL rates for IHD in older adults (over 65 years) were higher than in young (between 25 and 39 years) and middle‐aged adults (between 40 and 64 years) in 2017; however, the YLD and DALY rates for T2DM were higher in young and middle‐aged males than in older males. The age‐standardized, risk‐attributable DALY rates for total NCDs increased substantially in high‐SDI and high‐middle–SDI provinces during the period. Conclusions China has a huge and growing burden of IHD and T2DM attributable to diet high in SSBs, particularly among young and middle‐aged male adults in wealthier provinces. Evidence‐based public health policies at the provincial levels to reduce the consumption of SSBs should be prioritized in China.