Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Annalisa Merelli
Published on 2024-04-03 22:32:40
The Global Burden of Disease study recently analyzed deaths from 288 causes in over 200 states and territories, finding that Covid-19 was the only condition to break into the top five killers globally, alongside ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lower respiratory infections. In 2020 and 2021, Covid-19 ranked as the second-leading cause of death, surpassing stroke. This study, published in The Lancet, highlighted a significant decrease in global life expectancy during the pandemic, undoing earlier progress made between 1990 and 2019.
The report revealed a regional disparity in the impact of Covid-19 on life expectancy. The Andean region of Latin America experienced a loss of nearly 5 years, while Southern Sub-Saharan Africa lost 3.4 years. Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as Sub-Saharan Africa, were the only regions where Covid-19 was the leading cause of death in 2020. Conversely, high-income countries only lost about a year of life expectancy due to Covid-19, with regions like high-income Asia Pacific and East Asia experiencing minimal impact, possibly attributed to successful containment strategies.
The main factor contributing to progress between 1990 and 2021 was the reduction in deaths from diarrhea, which added an average of 1.1 years to global life expectancy. The decline in deaths from diarrhea had a significant impact in East Sub-Saharan Africa, where it contributed to a gain of nearly 11 years in life expectancy. East Asia also saw a notable reduction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, adding 8.3 years to life expectancy globally.
Despite overall improvement in health outcomes from 1990 to 2021, the report highlighted persistent inequalities, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. Debra Full-Holden, from New York University’s School of Global Public Health, emphasized that the focus on Covid-19 led to setbacks in addressing other diseases like HIV and malaria, disproportionately affecting lower-resourced parts of the world. She pointed out the global failure to allocate resources equitably, citing examples like the recent monkeypox outbreak.
The report also noted that interventions improving health conditions globally are not reaching all regions equally. While the disparities were highlighted, the report also showcased successes in disease mitigation programs. Researchers hope that the findings can serve as a roadmap for regions experiencing disparities to learn from successful interventions in other parts of the world.
In conclusion, the Global Burden of Disease study emphasized the global impact of Covid-19 on traditional leading causes of death, highlighting regional disparities and the need for equitable distribution of resources to address health challenges. By learning from successful interventions, countries can work towards reducing disparities in health outcomes and improving overall global health.
