Global, regional, and national burden and trends of congenital birth defects from 1990 to 2021: epidemiological trends, health inequalities, and COVID-19 impact

Birth defects remain a leading cause of mortality and disability in younger populations aged <14 years, however, little comprehensive or recent evidence of the burden of birth defects and its subtypes is available globally. Additionally, the extent of regional health inequality and the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on birth defects remain unclear. This study leverages 2021 Global Burden of Disease data to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the global epidemiological profile, health inequality, and the repercussions of the COVID-19 on birth defects, with the goal of guiding optimal medical resource allocation.