Global, regional, and national burden of diseases and injuries for adults 70 years and older
https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj-2021-068208
With the global population experiencing extra years of life, the health and wellbeing of older adults is paramount so that they can continue to be actively engaged in society. However, if added years are spent in poor health, health systems will face increased healthcare expenses due to increased demand. While ageing draws increasing attention from policy makers and stakeholders, global epidemiological data on the burden of disease in older adults are limited.
Extensive details on the methods used to derive each of the measures in GBD 2019 have been published previously. A brief summary of each component is presented, with emphasis on the metrics and analyses that are distinct to the present study to evaluate trends in epidemiological patterns and disease burden for people aged ≥70. Reporting was performed with adherence to the guidelines for accurate and transparent health estimates reporting statement.
The result showed that life expectancy at age 70 has continued to rise globally, mostly because of decreases in chronic diseases. Adults aged ≥70 living in high income countries and regions with better healthcare access and quality were found to experience the highest life expectancy and healthy life expectancy. Disability burden, however, remained constant, suggesting the need to enhance public health and intervention programmes to improve wellbeing among older adults.