Abstract

Comparable assessments of the contribution of various diseases, injuries and risk factors in causing premature death and disability in populations are an important input into health policy debates. The Global Burden of Disease and Injury Study provides estimates of premature death and disability from over 250 diseases and injuries, based on systematic reviews of all available data worldwide on causes of death, and on the incidence, prevalence and duration of major diseases and injuries. Injuries caused about 11% of all health loss worldwide in 2010, slightly more than in 1990. Of this, road traffic accidents were a leading component, causing almost 1.3 million deaths in 2010, about 50% more than two decades earlier. Almost 2 million people died from other unintentional injuries in 2010; deaths from falls have risen, while those from drowning have decreased since 1990. Global mortality from suicide has risen by almost 30%. Overall, injuries caused just under 5 million deaths in 2010, or one in 10 deaths worldwide. Much more policy attention is thus warranted to reduce injury burden in all regions.