Disease Burden

Description

The Public Health Branch, Rural and Regional Health and Aged Care Services, Department of Human Services, has prepared estimates of the mortality burden, disability burden and disease burden for the Victorian population. The mortality burden of a population shows the number of years of life lost – based on average life expectancy at birth – due to premature death through ill health. The disability burden of a population shows the number of years lived with disability, with disability defined broadly as all departures from a state of complete health due to disease and injury as well as disability. The disease burden combines the mortality and disability burden of a population and shows the number of years lost to premature death and disability.

Quality and Applicability

Burden of disease methodology is an internationally accepted approach used to estimate the impact of health problems (or amount of ill health) in a given population by quantifying it into a measure known as the disability adjusted life year (DALY). DALY is a measure of 'illness status' rather than health status. It is often referred to as a gap measure because it identifies the space between the current state of affairs and an ideal state where everyone lives into old age free of disease, disability or injury.

Because disease and death are more common with increasing age, populations with older age structures are more likely to have a higher disease burden than those with younger profiles (with all other things remaining equal, e.g. size). When comparing populations and determining whether one is 'sicker' than another, it is therefore best to use DALY rates per 1,000 persons.

Disease burden estimates are best to use if you want to know the amount of ill health in a given area. It is also highly recommended that you generate reports based on indicators of community health and wellbeing as a counterpoint to disease burden estimates. These reports present 'wellness' rather than 'illness' data.

Coverage

Estimates for the disease burden (including DALY rates per 1,000 persons) are available for local government areas. Estimates are by sex and age.

Reference Date

The most current disease burden estimates are for 2001.

Release Date

Disease burden estimates for 2001 were released in June 2006.

Access

Access disease burden estimates through the Victorian Government Health Information portal. Click on 'Burden of Disease' to access generate reports using the 'Search BoD Estimates' function.

Cost and Format

Burden of disease estimates can be viewed online and are accessible free of charge.

More Information

Contact the Health Surveillance and Evaluation Section, Rural and Regional Health and Aged Care Services Division, Department of Human Services, telephone (03) 9096 0396 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Additional Data Source(s)

DALY rates are available through the Victorian Local Governance Association online library of social statistics.