Global Burden of Disease

The Global Burden of Disease (GBD ) project has been the quantification of deaths, illness, disability and risk factors, divided into regions and population groups, the task. Based on this information it is possible to weigh important information that can be used by policy makers for setting priorities.

The GBD study was conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health launched ( at Harvard University ), the World Health Organization and the World Bank in 1992. They quantified and analyzed 135 diseases and disabilities, and tries to use this data to identify the causes of worldwide morbidity and mortality. The aim is to use this data to create forecasts that allow a global improvement of health conditions.

As a measure of ' quality of life ', the Disability-Adjusted Life Year ( DALY ) was introduced - a negative disability index, which describes a low quality of life at high values ​​. The DALY measures health gaps. It describes the difference between an actual situation and an ideal situation where everyone lives in good health up to the age that corresponds to the default values ​​of life expectancy. This standard life expectancy is determined based on mortality tables at birth of 80 years for men and 82.5 years for women. The lived with a disability and lost by premature death lifetime is combined in DALYs: the lost through premature death life years ( Years of life lost = YLL ) essentially correspond to the number of deaths, multiplied by the remaining life expectancy at the age at which the death occurs prematurely.

Quantifying the burden of disease helps by means of a comprehensible and standardized approach to define priorities for improving the health of the population. However, the information should be supplemented to mortality, risk factors and disease burden by studies on cost-effectiveness and interventions and socio-economic and cultural factors and preferences