Parameters and Regions

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The original Global Burden of Disease Study presented estimates of total mortality, years of life lost, and years of life disabled by diseases and injuries for eight regions of the world. A later innovation allowed for estimates of mortality and disability attributable to major risks for these same eight regions. This iteration of the study will present estimates in 21 distinct geographic regions.

The objectives of regionalization are twofold: first, to define regions that are as epidemiologically homogeneous as possible, so that information from detailed studies in one country can plausibly be extrapolated to other countries in the region; and second, related to the first, to create burden estimates that are useful to individual countries in planning for health sector activities. The regions were chosen using mortality estimates from the World Health Organization and the United Nations, in addition to what is known about country-specific epidemiological conditions.