Global Burden of Disease

The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study was pioneered by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation to give data about health trends worldwide (Dunachie et al., 2020). This data includes information about mortality, morbidity, risk factors, and overall health status, and thus the GBD Study is able to help people better understand the relationships between poverty, social inequality, and health.

Poverty and social inequality directly affect health in multiple ways. They can result in limited access to clean water, nutritious food, adequate housing, and healthcare services, which are critical determinants of health. According to GBD data, lower-income countries generally have higher disease burden, especially with regards to communicable diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS (Strong et al., 2005).

Social inequality also plays a key role in health disparities. Discrimination based on race,...

For example, in the United States, African Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities often experience lower quality healthcare compared to their white counterparts, even when insurance status, income, age, and severity of conditions are comparable. They are also disproportionately affected by certain health conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes, in part due to social and economic disadvantages stemming from systemic racism.

Education and health...

…involved. For example, agreements that contain strong intellectual property protections may impact the affordability and accessibility of pharmaceuticals. This has been a major concern in various free trade agreements where patent protections potentially increase drug prices and limit access to affordable generics. Conversely, provisions that eliminate tariffs on medical equipment or health-related goods can improve access to these resources.

GBD data can be a valuable resource in understanding these complex relationships and informing policy decisions. It helps to give people more comprehensive, reliable information about health trends and risk factors. Thus, it can help policymakers, researchers, and advocates to identify priorities, develop strategies, and measure progress in the ongoing effort to…