What is DALY? Let's learn about this important measure of healthy living! (DALY)

Have you ever wondered how a certain disease affects us, not just the time we have the disease, but our entire life? Some diseases and accidents can shorten our lifespan. Others can cause us to have to live with a disability for the rest of our lives. So, there is a special way to measure how much of our healthy life we ​​lose because of these things. That's what we call DALY.

Simply put, what is DALY (Disability-Adjusted Life Year)?

Simply put, DALY (Disability-Adjusted Life Year) is a global measure used by researchers and health policymakers to estimate how different diseases affect people's lifespan and quality of life in a given population.

This method is used to understand the "burden of disease" in a country or region. That is, experts look at the social, economic, environmental, and political factors that affect people's overall health. This method was first introduced in the 1990s.

How are these DALYs calculated?

Two main things are used to calculate DALY.

1. Years of Life Lost (YLLs)

2. Years Lived with Disability (YLDs)

In this case, YLLs are the years of life lost due to premature death. YLDs are the number of healthy years lost due to a disease or disability.

So DALY is the sum of both YLLs and YLDs.

DALY = YLLs + YLDs

Let's understand with an example.

Imagine a young child who is 15 years old. We assume that if he does not develop any serious illness (e.g. diabetes , cancer), he will live to be about 80 years old. However, imagine that this child dies in an accident at the age of 15.

Then his life expectancy (YLL) is 80 - 15 = 65 years. Here, since he did not live with a disability, the YLD value is 0.

So his DALY value is 65. That means he lost 65 years of healthy life.

But there's a good thing here. Even if you have a disease, if you get proper treatment from a doctor, change your lifestyle, and improve your health, you can reduce this DALY value, which means you can increase your healthy life span.

What diseases and disorders affect DALYs?

A wide range of diseases, accidents and disabilities are taken into account when calculating DALYs. Below are some of the conditions that are common even in our country.

Difference between DALY and QALY

Like DALY, there is another measure called QALY (Quality-Adjusted Life Year) . This also measures the length and quality of life. A QALY is a year of life that you live in complete health.

The main difference between these two is:

• DALYs measure the number of years lost due to illness or death.
• QALYIt measures the number of healthy years you gain due to improved quality of life due to treatment or lifestyle changes .

How can you improve your DALY score?

Research has found that there are several things you can do to increase your healthy lifespan and reduce the burden of disease. You can discuss these with your doctor and do them in a way that suits you.

One study found that people who adopt this type of healthy lifestyle add at least 2 years of healthy life to their lives compared to those who do not.

Why is the DALY measure useful?

By looking at DALY data, health officials and doctors can understand the burden of a disease on a country. Based on that information, they can take the necessary steps to control the disease, educate people, and improve health services.

For example, if diabetes or heart disease is increasing among young people in our country, DALY data will show how it will affect their future healthy lifespan. Then, we can control that situation through awareness programs at the school level, such as encouraging them to exercise.

Are there any limitations to the DALY method?

Yes. Because DALY measures the impact of a disease in a single number, it sometimes doesn't paint the full picture. Because not every disease or disorder is the same.

For example, it is two different things to have asthma for a short period of time and to live with schizophrenia , a severe mental illness , for the rest of your life.

Also, even if someone has a disability (e.g., inability to walk, difficulty speaking), they can live a full and happy life if they have access to good health care, family and community support, and the tools to make their lives easier. These social factors may not always be taken into account when calculating DALYs.

However, DALY is a very important and useful tool for gaining a broad understanding of the overall health status of a country.