Measuring the Burden of Disease in Korea

• DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2007.22.3.518
• Publication Date: 2009-05-17T10:15:37Z
• Authors: Seok-Jun Yoon; Sang-Cheol Bae; Sang-Il Lee; Hyejung Chang; Heui Sug Jo; Joo-Hun Sung; Jae-Hyun Park; Jin-Yong Lee; Youngsoo Shin
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Adolescent; Epidemiology; Health Status; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Disease; Child; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Korea; Data Collection; Infant, Newborn; 1. No poverty; Infant; Middle Aged; Health Surveys; 3. Good health; Research Design; Child, Preschool; Original Article; Female

This paper provides an overview of the Korean Burden of Disease (KBoD) study, which was the first such study to assess the national burden of disease using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in an advanced Asian country. The KBoD study generally followed the approach utilized in the original Global Burden of Disease study (GBD), with the exception of the disease classification and epidemiological data estimation methods used, and the relative weightings of disabilities. The results of the present study reveal that the burden of disease per 100,000 of the Korean population originates primarily from; cancer (1,525 Person Years, PYs), cardiovascular disease (1,492 PYs), digestive disease (1,140 PYs), diabetes mellitus (990 PYs), and certain neuro-psychiatric conditions (883 PYs). These results are largely consistent with those of developed countries, but also represent uniquely Korean characteristics.