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Measuring the burden of disease: Healthy life-years

Author

Listed:
  • Hyder, A.A.
  • Rotllant, G.
  • Morrow, R.H.

Abstract

Objectives. This paper presents the background and rationale for a composite indicator, healthy life-year (HeaLY), that incorporates mortality and morbidity into a single number. HeaLY is compared with the disability- adjusted life-year (DALY) indicator, to demonstrate the relative simplicity and ease of use of the former. Methods. Data collected by the Ghana Health Assessment team from census records, death certificates, medical records, and special studies were used to create a spread sheet. HeaLYs lost as a result of premature mortality and disability from 56 conditions were estimated. Results. Two thirds of HeaLYs lost in Ghana were from maternal and communicable diseases and were largely preventable. The age weighting in DALYs leads to a higher value placed on deaths at younger ages than in HeaLYs. This spreadsheet can be used as a template for assessing changes in health status attributable to interventions. Conclusions. HeaLYs can aid in setting health priorities and identifying disadvantaged groups. The disaggregated approach of the HeaLY spreadsheet tool is simpler for decision makers and useful for country application.

Suggested Citation

  • Hyder, A.A. & Rotllant, G. & Morrow, R.H., 1998. "Measuring the burden of disease: Healthy life-years," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 88(2), pages 196-202.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1998:88:2:196-202_9
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    Cited by:

    1. Jeppsson, Anders & Okuonzi, Sam Agatre & Ostergren, Per-Olof & Hagstrom, Bo, 2004. "Using burden of disease/cost-effectiveness as an instrument for district health planning: experiences from Uganda," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(3), pages 261-270, December.
    2. Hyder, Adnan Ali & Amach, Omar Hussein & Garg, Nitin & Labinjo, Mariam Temitope, 2006. "Estimating the burden of road traffic injuries among children and adolescents in urban South Asia," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(2), pages 129-139, July.
    3. Aruna Chandran & Geoffrey Kahn & Tanara Sousa & Flavio Pechansky & David Bishai & Adnan Hyder, 2013. "Impact of Road Traffic Deaths on Expected Years of Life Lost and Reduction in Life Expectancy in Brazil," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 50(1), pages 229-236, February.
    4. Peipei Chai & Quan Wan & Yohannes Kinfu, 2021. "Efficiency and productivity of health systems in prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in China, 2008–2015," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 22(2), pages 267-279, March.
    5. Sara L. M. Trærup & Ramon A. Ortiz & Anil Markandya, 2011. "The Costs of Climate Change: A Study of Cholera in Tanzania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-20, November.
    6. Bibiána Nováková & Tatiana Vagašová, 2016. "Health And Its Effects On The Quality Of Life In The Eu Countries," Scientific Annals of Economics and Business (continues Analele Stiintifice), Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, vol. 63(1), pages 1-14, March.
    7. Marcello Basili & Filippo Belloc, 2015. "How To Measure The Economic Impact Of Vector-Borne Diseases At Country Level," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(5), pages 896-916, December.
    8. Marcello Basili & Filippo Belloc, 2012. "How to Measure the Economic Impact of Vector-Borne Diseases at a Country Level: An Assessment," Department of Economics University of Siena 648, Department of Economics, University of Siena.

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