The Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 #GBDstudy
Fact Sheet

The Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 #GBDstudy

admin October 16, 2020 2 min read

The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) provides a tool to quantify health loss from hundreds of diseases, injuries, and risk […]

The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) provides a tool to quantify health loss from hundreds of diseases, injuries, and risk factors, so that health systems can be improved and disparities can be eliminated. The Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 is the most comprehensive global health study, analyzing 286 causes of death, 369 diseases & injuries, and 87 risk factors. GBD is convened by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) provides a tool to quantify health loss from hundreds of diseases, injuries, and risk factors, so that health systems can be improved and disparities can be eliminated.

It provides a roadmap for policymakers showing where health needs are greatest, with country-specific data on risk factors and chronic disease burden.

Top 5 risk factors for death in females globally;

  • High blood pressure contributed to 5.2 million deaths
  • Diet – 3.4 million
  • High blood sugar – 3.0 million
  • Air pollution – 2.9 million
  • High BMI – 2.5 million

Top 5 risk factors for death in males;

  • Tobacco & smoking contributed to 6.5 million deaths
  • High blood pressure – 5.6 million
  • Diet – 4.4 million
  • Air pollution – 3.7 million
  • High blood sugar – 3.1 million

Top 10 causes of disease burden in 2019:

  • Neonatal disorders 7%
  • Ischemic heart disease 7%
  • Stroke 6%
  • Lower respiratory infections 4%
  • Diarrheal diseases 3%
  • COPD 3%
  • Road injuries 3%
  • Diabetes 3%
  • Low back pain 2%
Data visualization

Publication links

The Lancet’s special issue: The Global Burden of Disease Study 2019


GBDstudy Global Burden of Disease International Guidelines & Documents Reports