14.12.12
Heart disease and cancer highlighted as major causes of death
Fewer children are dying globally every year, but more young and middle-aged adults are dying and suffering from disease, the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 indicates.
Published in the Lancet at the Royal Society, the study has taken over five years to complete, with evidence from over 50 different countries. It is the first systematic and comprehensive assessment of global data on disease, injuries and risk since 1990 and has greatly extended its scope since then.
The study is led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) with key collaborating institutions including the University of Queensland, the Harvard School of Public Health, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the University of Tokyo, Imperial College London, and the World Health Organization.
Results show that infectious diseases, maternal and child illness and malnutrition now cause fewer deaths and less illness than they did 20 years ago. However, cancer and heart disease have become dominant causes of death worldwide.
Since 1970, men and women worldwide have gained just over 10 years of life expectancy overall, but spent more years living with illness and injury.
Dr Chris Murray, director of the IHME, said: “For decision-makers, health-sector leaders, researchers, and informed citizens, the global burden of disease approach provides an opportunity to see the big picture, to compare diseases, injuries, and risk factors, and to understand in a given place, time, and age-sex group, what are the most important contributors to health loss.”
The report is at: www.thelancet.com/themed/global-burden-of-disease
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