title: [Burden of disease in the elderly population in Spain].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We analyzed the burden of disease in the elderly population in Spain in 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Burden of disease analysis allows distinct health problems to be reassessed in relation to classical mortality analysis.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Ricard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gènova-Maleras
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Álvarez-Martín
authors.forename: Ferrán
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Catalá-López
authors.forename: Nerea
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fernández de Larrea-Baz
authors.forename: Consuelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morant-Ginestar
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology