Question

What does global burden of a disease mean? Enlist the top ten causes of mortality in Saudi Arabia. Discuss the global burden in relation to child and maternal health of Saudi Arabia.

Answer 1

Ans) The Global Burden of Disease Study is a comprehensive regional and global research program of disease burden that assesses mortality and disability from major diseases, injuries, and risk factors.

>Top 10 Causes of Death in Saudi Arabia:
Road Injuries 9%
Diabetes 7%
Back/Neck Injuries 7%
Ischemic Heart Disease 6%
Depressive Disorders 5%
Congenital Anomalies of the Heart 5%
Drug Use 4%
Skin Disorders 3%

Chronic Kidney Disease 2%
Cancer 2%

> Fatal and non-fatal burden of diseases and injuries among younger children (<5 years), older children (5-9 years) and adolescents (10-19 years) and maternal for 1990-2013 in 188 countries.

- Of the 7.7 million deaths among children and adolescents globally in 2013, 80% occurred among younger children. Of the 135.6 million years lived with disability among children and adolescents in the same year, 60% were contributed by adolescents.

- In 2013, lower respiratory infections were the leading cause of death among younger children (905,059 deaths), diarrheal diseases among older children (38,325 deaths), and road injuries among adolescents (115,186 deaths). Iron deficiency anemia was the leading cause of years lived with disability among children and adolescents affecting 619 million prevalent cases in 2013.

- There is large variation in the distribution of deaths and disease burden between countries. For instance, in 2013, Nigeria had about 4% of the world’s children and adolescents but a 12% share of global lower respiratory infections deaths and a 38% share of global malaria deaths.