Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) = Years of Life Lost (YLL) + Years Lived with Disability (YLD). A 40-year-old woman dies from cervical cancer. If standard life expectancy at age 40 is 38 years, and she lived with disability for 2 years before death at a disability weight of 0.5, calculate her total DALY burden:
- A 39 DALYs ✓
- B 38 DALYs
- C 40 DALYs
- D 41 DALYs
Correct answer: A. 39 DALYs
Explanation
YLL = standard life expectancy − age at death = 38 years. YLD = duration of disability × disability weight = 2 years × 0.5 = 1 DALY. Total DALYs = YLL + YLD = 38 + 1 = 39 DALYs. DALYs quantify the total burden of disease by combining years of healthy life lost through premature mortality and years spent living in states of less than full health.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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