Application of Disability-Adjusted Life Years to Evaluate the Burden and Trend of Tuberculosis - China, 1990-2019

China CDC Wkly. 2022 Mar 18;4(11):220-225. doi: 10.46234/ccdcw2022.051.

Abstract

What is already known about this topic?: China is a country with a high burden of tuberculosis (TB). However, the evaluation of TB burden is usually based on traditional epidemiological indicators, and disability-adjusted life year (DALY) is rarely applied.

What is added by this report?: In China, the number of DALYs caused by TB in 2019 was estimated to be 1.36 million, and the age-standardized rate (ASR) was 86.46/100,000. The DALYs of TB decreased significantly from 1990 to 2019, with the largest decline from 2001 to 2010. The burden is higher among men than women, and the highest among the elderly.

What are the implications for public health practice?: Application of DALYs can reflect the damage in health to China's residents caused by tuberculosis. In the future, we should strengthen research, monitor years lived with disability (YLDs), and reduce the burden of the elderly and men. Cost-effective analysis based on DALYs should be conducted to provide a scientific basis for decision-making.

Keywords: Burden; Disability Adjusted Life; Tuberculosis.