Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Approach and the Use of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY) at the World Health Organization (WHO)

The global burden of disease (GBD) concept has been used by the World Health Organization (WHO) for its express mandate to report on health information for over a decade. The GBD approach results in a summary measure of morbidity, disability, and mortality as one single number, the disability-adjusted life year (DALY). To ensure transparency and objectivity in the derivation of health information, WHO uses reference groups of external experts to advise on the estimation of burden of disease. In the area of environmental health, WHO has a strong tradition of using summary measures for the quantification of risks. Following the World Health Report 2002, WHO has published the Environmental Burden of Disease Series that covers specific environmental or occupational risks, including outdoor air pollution, indoor air pollution from solid fuel use, occupational airborne particulates, and occupational noise. In the area of food safety, the Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group (FERG) is scheduled to provide burden of disease estimates for microbiological and chemical causes of foodborne diseases by 2012. The results of these assessments provide the scientific evidence for policy makers to allocate resources for appropriate disease control and intervention efforts.