Objective  To examine the disease burden of drowning among residents in Hubei province during the period from 1990 through 2015 and to provide references for the prevention and control of drowning.

  Methods  We extracted relevant data from the study results of Global Burden of Disease 2015 (GBD2015). Drowning-related mortality, years lived with disability (YLD), years of life lost due to premature mortality (YLL), and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) during the period from 1990 through 2015 were calculated for the population of Hubei province. The standard population of the 2015 GBD was used to adjust the indicators calculated.

  Results  Among the residents in Hubei province, the annual number and incidence rate of drowning declined from 76 800 and 175.43/100 000 in 1990 to 50 000 and 79.90/100 000 in 2015, with the decrease rates of 36.39% for number of drowning and 54.45% for the incidence rate. During the 26-year period for the population of the province, the annual number of death and standardized mortality rate due to drowning decreased by 72.06% (from 13 600 to 3 800) and 67.15% (from 24.23/100 000 to 7.96/100 000); the YLD of drowning declined from 0.57 to 0.22 ten thousand person years (decreased by 61.40%) and the standardized YLD rate declined from 12.33/100 000 to 3.55/100 000 (decreased by 71.21%); the YLL of drowning declined from 96.54 to 17.88 ten thousand person years (decreased by 81.48%) and the standardized YLL rate declined from 1598.76/100 000 to 425.41/100 000 (decreased by 73.39%); the DALY of drowning declined from 97.11 to 18.10 ten thousand person years (decreased by 81.36%) and the standardized DALY rates declined from 1 611.09/100 000 to 428.96/100 000 (decreased by 73.39%). The annual incidence rate of drowning was the highest (505.73/100 000 in 1990 and 331.62/100 000 in 2015) among the residents aged ≥ 70 years compared to the residents of other ages; in 1990, the mortality rate of drowning was the highest (88.94/100 000) among the children of < 5 years old, but in 2015, the rate was the highest (21.39/100 000) among the elderly residents of ≥ 70 years old; in 1990 and 2015, both the YLL and DALY rate were the highest (7 526.43/100 000 and 1 109.36/100 000 in 1990 and 7 528.24/100 000 and 1 109.64/100 000 in 2015) among the elderly aged ≥ 70 years and the YLD rate were the highest (28.99/100 000 in 1990 and 14.29/100 000 in 2015) among the elderly aged ≥ 70 years. Compared with those in 1990, the incidence, mortality, YLD, YLL, and DALY rate of drowning declined in 2015 among the residents of all age groups and the declines were the highest for the children of < 5 years old; the decreases of the rates were inversely correlated with the increment of age of the residents.

  Conclusion  The disease burden of drowning declined and was mainly attributed to premature deaths due to drowning among the residents in Hubei province during the period from 1990 through 2015. The populations with higher disease burden of drowning are children, adolescents, and the elderly.