Global Burden

The global burden of disease refers to the total impact of diseases, injuries, and risk factors on populations worldwide, measured in terms of health loss—including premature death, disability, and impaired quality of life.

To quantify and compare how different health conditions affect populations globally, across regions, ages, and time. It provides a comprehensive view of public health priorities.

• Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs): combines years of life lost (YLLs) due to premature death and years lived with disability (YLDs).
• Years of Life Lost (YLLs): due to early mortality compared to standard life expectancy.
• Years Lived with Disability (YLDs): adjusted by severity of non-fatal conditions.
• Mortality rates, prevalence, and incidence

• Health policy and planning
• Allocation of health resources
• Comparative risk assessment (e.g., tobacco vs. air pollution)
• Monitoring trends in disease burden over time

• Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study – led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME)
• WHO Global Health Estimates

• Enables international comparisons across diseases and regions
• Highlights under-recognized or rising health threats
• Facilitates evidence-based prioritization in public health

• Global burden modeling
• Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY)
• Comparative risk assessment
• Ecological trend analysis