• Ricard Gènova-Maleras, Elena Álvarez-Martín, Ferrán Catalá-López, Nerea Fernández de Larrea-Baz, and Consuelo Morant-Ginestar.
• Servicio de Informes de Salud y Estudios, Subdirección de Promoción de la Salud y Prevención, Consejería de Sanidad, Comunidad de Madrid, Madrid, España. ricard.genova@salud.madrid.org
• Gac Sanit. 2011 Dec 1; 25 Suppl 2: 47-50.

ObjectiveWe analyzed the burden of disease in the elderly population in Spain in 2008.MethodsA population-based cross-sectional study was performed to calculate the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of the Spanish population aged ≥ 60 years old. DALYs are the sum of the number of years of life lost (YLLs) and the number of years lived with disability (YLDs). Data sources included the national mortality register for YLLs, and inference of Euro-A subregion (including Spain) estimates for YLDs.ResultsIn the elderly population, DALYs lost due to all diseases were estimated at 2.1 million. The main causes of DALYs were malignancies (21.3%), neuropsychiatric disorders (21.1%) and cardiovascular diseases (20.4%). The main specific subcategories were dementias, ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, hearing loss and osteoarthritis.ConclusionsBurden of disease analysis allows distinct health problems to be reassessed in relation to classical mortality analysis.Copyright © 2011 SESPAS. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

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