The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study uses Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) to quantify disease burden. DALYs are calculated as:

• A Years of Life Lost (YLL) × Disability Weight (DW)
• B Years Lived with Disability (YLD) + Years of Life Lost (YLL) ✓
• C Years of Life Lost (YLL) − Years Lived with Disability (YLD)
• D Disability Weight (DW) × Life Expectancy at Birth

Explanation

DALYs = YLL + YLD. Years of Life Lost (YLL) measures the burden of premature mortality (= number of deaths × standard life expectancy at age of death). Years Lived with Disability (YLD) measures the burden of non-fatal disease (= number of cases × duration × disability weight). One DALY represents one year of healthy life lost. DALYs allow comparison of disease burden across conditions of varying severity and allow priority-setting in health resource allocation.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

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