DALY (Disability-Adjusted Life Year)

A Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY) is a health measurement that estimates the total burden of disease by combining years lost due to early death and years lived with illness or disability. One DALY represents one year of healthy life lost. It helps compare the impact of different diseases and conditions on populations, guiding health priorities. Essentially, DALYs quantify the gap between current health status and an ideal scenario where everyone lives a long, healthy life, enabling policymakers to target interventions effectively.