Estimating the burden and economic impact of trachomatous visual loss.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the burden (disability-adjusted life years) and economic impact (potential productivity loss) associated with trachomatous visual loss.


METHODS
National survey data on trachomatous blindness or visual impairment since 1980.


METHODS
The primary results summarized studies for countries with known or suspected blinding trachoma within World Development Report demographic regions. The number of cases was based on the year 2000 population. The years of life with disability calculation used the age-sex distribution of trachomatous visual loss. The one-year potential productivity loss calculation used the agricultural value added per worker in 1998.


RESULTS
Countries with known or suspected blinding trachoma have 3.8 million cases of blindness and 5.3 million cases of low vision and a potential productivity loss of 2.9 billion US dollars (1995 US dollars). Prevalent cases of trachomatous visual loss yield 39 million lifetime DALYs.


CONCLUSIONS
For resource allocation, the burden of disease can be compared with the expected costs of eradication of trachomatous blindness.
Frick
Kevin D
KD
Department of Health Policy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA. kfrick@jhsph.edu
Basilion
Eva V
EV
Hanson
Christy L
CL
Colchero
M Arantxa
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001766:Blindness / Q000191:economics; D017281:Cost of Illness; D014943:Global Health; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014141:Trachoma / Q000191:economics*; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*