UNB, Dhaka :
Fewer people are dying from diarrhoeal diseases and preterm birth complications in Bangladesh, according to a comprehensive analysis of trend data from 188 countries. Since 1990, Bangladesh saw marked declines in mortality from a number of diseases that used to take a large toll on the country. For instance, by 2013, mortality from diarrhoeal diseases decreased 91 percent and preterm birth complications caused 79 percent fewer deaths.
In 1990, these diseases killed 271,569 people. Twenty-three years later, they claimed 235,859 fewer lives.
At the same time, a number of diseases, including ischemic heart disease and diabetes, claimed more lives in Bangladesh in 2013 than in 1990.
Life-expectancy improved for both men and women in Bangladesh at an average of 11.1 years gained since 1990. This was a larger increase than the global average, and one of the top 10 biggest gains in life-expectancy worldwide.
Published in The Lancet on December 18, “Global, regional, and national age-sex specific all-cause and cause-specific mortality for 240 causes of death, 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013” was conducted by an international consortium of researchers coordinated by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington. The leading killers in Bangladesh were stroke, ischemic heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), accounting for 34 percent of all deaths in 2013.
Ischemic heart disease and stroke were the top two causes of death for people between the ages of 15 and 49, resulting in 31,724 lives lost in 2013.
Among individuals, 70 and older, stroke claimed the most lives that year. The top cause of child mortality was neonatal encephalopathy in 2013, killing 28,412 children under the age of 5. In Bangladesh, ischemic heart disease and diabetes took more lives in 2013 than in 1990, with deaths increasing more than 400 percent and more than 200 percent, respectively.
Mortality from stroke also increased more than 200 percent between 1990 and 2013.
In Bangladesh, average life-expectancy for men increased to 68.3 years. Women’s average life-expectancy increased to 71 years in 2013. The study also revealed how some diseases and injuries cause different mortality patterns for males and females. For example, in Bangladesh, ischemic heart disease took a greater toll on men, killing 71,375 males and 35,505 females in 2013. By contrast, stroke claimed 91,809 women’s lives and 86,545 men’s lives. Dr Aliya Naheed, Associate Scientist, Centre for Equity and Health Systems, icddr,b said, “Bangladesh has set an extraordinary example of improving health and life expectancy of its people at a very low cost, and has achieved notable gains in a number of indicators. Bangladesh has outperformed some of its neighboring countries, which have higher per capita incomes.
However, the health system has been facing enormous challenges as it caters to more than 150 million people. These challenges will be greater in the future as the population grows, demographics shift, and chronic diseases emerge on top of infectious diseases. The government will need to invest more in primary health care and focus on developing self-sustaining health plans for prevention of both acute and chronic diseases.”
Globally, people live an average of 6.2 years longer than they did in 1990, with a life expectancy rising to just under 72 years in 2013.
Women showed a slightly larger average gain (an increase of 6.6 years) than men (a rise of 5.8 years). Improvements in health, reduced fertility, and shifts in the world’s age patterns have driven these global gains in life-expectancy.
In Bangladesh, the average life-expectancy for women was 71 years in 2013, with men living an average of 68.3 years. By contrast, women lived an average of 59 years and men had a life expectancy of 58.2 years in 1990.
Out of the 188 countries included in the study Bangladesh ranked 126th for women and 108th for men for longest life expectancies. In 2013, Andorra had the longest life expectancy for women (86.7 years) and Qatar had the longest for men (81.2 years). Lesotho had the shortest life expectancy for both women (51.2 years) and men (45.6 years).
“The fact that people are living longer in most parts of the world is good news but we must do more to address health disparities,” said IHME Director Dr. Christopher Murray. “Only with the best available evidence can we develop policies to improve health and save lives.” Worldwide, ischemic heart disease, stroke, and COPD claimed the most lives, accounting for nearly 32% of all deaths. Much global progress has been made in reducing mortality from diseases such as measles and diarrhea, with 83 percent and 51 percent declines, respectively, from 1990 to 2013.
The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2013 is part of an ongoing effort to produce the timely and up-to-date understanding of what kills and ails people worldwide.
