DISABILITY ADJUSTED LIFE YEAR Meaning and
Definition
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Disability Adjusted Life Year (DALY) is a metric used in public health and health economics to quantify the overall burden of disease and injury. It is a measure that takes into account both mortality (years of life lost) and morbidity (years lived with disability) associated with a specific health condition.
DALYs are calculated by summing the years of life lost due to premature death and the years lived with disability for each specific health condition. Years of life lost are determined by comparing the age at death with a standard life expectancy, whereas years lived with disability are estimated by considering the severity and duration of the condition.
This metric helps policymakers and researchers compare the impact of different diseases and injuries on overall population health. It provides a valuable tool for prioritizing interventions and allocating resources based on the burden of disease and disability in a specific population.
DALYs provide a standardized way of measuring the impact of disease and injury, allowing for cross-country and cross-condition comparisons. By quantifying the burden of disease in terms of years lost due to ill-health, they provide a comprehensive measure that considers both mortality and morbidity.
Overall, the Disability Adjusted Life Year is a measure that seeks to capture the total impact of a health condition on an individual’s quality of life, taking into account both the duration and severity of disability, as well as premature mortality related to the condition.
