Global Burden of Disease
Assessment of Global Burden of Disease associated with ionizing radiation
WHO is currently undertaking a new global burden of disease assessment for the year of 2000 and beyond (GBD 2000 Project) to assess risks due to 135 major causes of death disaggregated by age, sex, for the world and for major geographic regions. Ionizing radiation is one of the factors to be investigated. Assessment of GBD from ionizing radiation has never been done before.
The specific objectives for Global Burden of Disease from ionizing radiation are:
- to develop internally consistent estimates of mortality from ionizing radiation disaggregated by age, sex, for major geographic regions and for the world;
- to develop internally consistent estimates of the incidence, prevalence, duration and case-fatality for disease and disability sequelae resulting from ionizing radiation;
- to describe and value the health states associated with these sequelae of diseases;
- to quantify the burden of premature mortality and disability by age, sex, and geographic region for various categories of risk factors (categorised for radiation and exposure types).
Our effort is aimed at estimating the GBD associated with ionizing radiation, at a global level and within a framework that is common to a wide array of risk factors. The common comparative risk analysis is based on a method for measuring the burden of disease as disability adjusted life years (DALY's). The method incorporates both mortality and morbidity into one single measure allowing for international comparisons and providing a tool for national policy makers and public health authorities to identify the most vulnerable population groups, most needed areas for interventions, distribute resources accordingly, and to evaluate benefits of intervention.
The first results of the GBD assessment from 26 other than ionizing radiation risk factors (including childhood and maternal undernutrition risks, diet-related risks and physical inactivity, abusive substances, environmental and occupational risks, and other selected risk factors) are published in the 2002 World Health Report (Chapter 4)
additional information
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Global Burden of Disease Methodology and Documentation
Additional information on Global Burden of Disease concept, methodology, documentation, manuals, and software may be found at WHO’s Burden of Disease website. -
Global Burden of Disease from Ionizing Radiation
pdf, 359kb
Link to PDF of power point presentation given by Dr Z Carr in Vienna, Oct 2002.