Burden of male infertility in Asia from 1990 to 2021 and prediction to 2040: A Global Burden of Disease Study

Purpose This study aims to investigate the epidemiological data and trends of male infertility aged 20 to 49 years in Asia from 1990 to 2021. Methods Data for this study was obtained from the GBD 2021 public database. Trends in prevalence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR), and age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR), along with their correlation with the Socio-Demographic Index, were analyzed. A join-point regression model was developed to assess trends across different time segments. Additionally, an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model was employed for predictions extending to 2040. Results The burden of male infertility among individuals aged 20 to 49 years significantly increased globally and in East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia from 1990 to 2021, with the South Asia region exhibiting the largest increase and the fastest growth rate. East Asia exhibited the highest disease burden, whereas Central Asia and the high-income Asia Pacific region had the lowest. Predictions for 2040 indicate that this upward trend will continue both globally and within Asian regions. Conclusion The disease burden in East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia remains significant, with a notable upward trend observed in South Asia and Southeast Asia. Targeted interventions and policies are needed based on the epidemiological characteristics and changing trends of different Asian regions.