ABSTRACT:
Background Invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) infections represent a significant global health challenge, yet comprehensive and current assessments of their worldwide impact remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the global, regional, and national burden and temporal trends of iNTS infections from 1990 to 2021. Methods Data regarding the incidence and mortality of iNTS infections were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2021. We calculated estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) to quantify temporal trends and analyzed the associations between the burden of iNTS and the Socio-demographic index (SDI) across different regions. Results Globally, the number of incident iNTS cases increased by 46.44%, rising from 348,244 in 1990 to 509,976 in 2021. Similarly, mortality rose by 26.72%, from 48,941 deaths to 62,018 deaths over the same period. The global age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) demonstrated an overall upward trend (EAPC = 0.45), while the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) showed a modest annual increase of 0.2%. Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the highest ASIR and ASMR, highlighting significant regional disparities. Furthermore, a strong negative correlation was found between SDI and disease burden, although higher-SDI regions experienced a faster rate of increase in ASIR. Conclusions The global burden of iNTS infections has continued to rise over the past three decades, characterized by notable regional inequalities. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions, improved diagnostic capacities, and strengthened surveillance of antimicrobial resistance to mitigate this growing public health threat.