The global health workforce nearly tripled between 1990 and 2023, with women driving most of the growth, yet remaining concentrated in lower-paying professions. An additional 34.4 million health workers are needed to achieve moderate universal health coverage, with shortages greatest in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr. Amoako's evidence-driven services improve early diagnosis, expand access to treatment, and advance locally led research in Ghana. Her work aims to strengthen childhood cancer care across the country.
A new Global Burden of Disease study found that people are spending more years living with chronic disease and disability as global life expectancy increases. The analysis revealed that high-income countries face the widest morbidity gaps, while women consistently live longer but spend more years in poor health.
Global road injury rates declined by 38.3% for new cases and 32.3% for deaths between 1990 and 2023, but progress was uneven across income groups. Low- and middle-income countries bear the greatest burden, with nearly six times higher mortality rates than high-income countries.
The study found high-risk associations between alcohol use and all ten cancers examined, with risk increasing progressively as intake rose. Low-to-moderate drinking was associated with lower disease risk for type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, ischemic heart disease, and stroke.
The study found that mental disorders disproportionately affect young people aged 15-19 and women, with anxiety and depression ranking among the top causes of disability globally. Mental disorders now account for 171 million DALYs, placing them as the fifth-leading cause of total disease burden worldwide.
Global maternal deaths fell to 240,000 in 2023, but progress has slowed in recent years and remains uneven across countries. Improvements in access to quality care could substantially reduce mortality, particularly in high-burden regions.
Medical care improvements in the U.S. have increased health spans by 1.3 years and reduced lifetime healthcare spending by $234,000 per person over their lifetime. For many diseases, investing early in prevention and treatment can lead to cost-effective gains later on.
Violence against women and children is linked to 14 conditions and 8 negative health outcomes, resulting in significant health loss worldwide. The study estimates that nearly 30,000 women were killed by their partners in 2023 alone.
Nearly one million children under five fail to reach their fifth birthday due to growth failure, a risk factor for mortality and morbidity. The study also found that stunting accounted for 12% of all child deaths, with 618,000 deaths in sub-Saharan Africa.
Headache disorders affect nearly one in every three people, causing significant disability and health loss. Migraine and medication overuse drive most of the global burden, emphasizing the need for improved prevention, management, and access to care.
The study found CKD affects nearly 800 million worldwide, with diabetes and high blood pressure driving the greatest loss of healthy years. Access to kidney replacement therapies remains limited, highlighting the need for preventive measures and equitable care.
The latest Global Burden of Disease study reveals declining global mortality rates, but rising youth deaths and widening health inequities. Non-communicable diseases account for nearly two-thirds of total death and disability, with ischemic heart disease, stroke, and diabetes leading the globe.
A large portion of people with diabetes remain undiagnosed or receive suboptimal care. The study found that 44% of those aged 15 and older with diabetes are unaware of their condition, with substantial regional diagnosis and treatment disparities.
Dr. Adekemi Adeniyan's innovative solutions to tackle oral health disparities in underserved communities have earned her the IHME's 2025 Roux Prize. Her work, using local data and community feedback, has expanded access to dental care for over 100,000 people.
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation predicts a 8% decline in development assistance for health by 2030, following a 51% decrease since 2021. This could compromise global health progress, particularly for vulnerable populations and infectious disease treatment.
The study reveals alarming increases in mental disorders, cardiovascular diseases, smoking, and road injuries across the ASEAN region. Mental disorders affect over 80 million people, while cardiovascular diseases claim 37 million lives, with smoking and road injuries exacerbating the problem.
According to a study published in The Lancet, nearly one out of five women and one out of seven men aged 20 and older faced sexual violence as a child. The global SVAC prevalence remained high at about 19% for women and almost 15% for men.
The study found that global age-standardized mortality rate for suicide declined by nearly 40% from 1990 to 2021, but progress is not universal, with four regions reporting increases in suicide rates. Males were more than twice as likely to die by suicide than females, but females were 49% more likely to attempt it.
The most comprehensive study on US health care spending by county reveals drastic fluctuations in expenses from coast to coast. The analysis found that Nassau County in New York City's metropolitan area has the highest per capita health care expenditure at $13,332, while Clark County in Idaho has the lowest at $3,410.
College graduates outlive those without a high school diploma by 11 years, while some college education increases life expectancy by 0.7 years. Lifespan varies significantly across counties, with the most educated living up to 36 years longer than the least educated.
The global prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) varies by sex and region but persists globally across all age groups. ASD is significantly higher among males, with a higher prevalence in High-Income Asia Pacific regions.
A new study reports a 60% decline in global diarrheal disease mortality, but highlights regional disparities and areas for improvement, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The largest decrease was among children under 5 years old, with a 79% drop in deaths, while adults 70+ still face high mortality rates.
The US is forecasted to stall in life expectancy gains and experience a decline in its global health rankings by 2050. The country's poor health is expected to cause a significant drop in the nation's overall health-adjusted life expectancy, with female HALE declining by 20 states.
A new IHME study reveals significant progress in the global fight against HIV/AIDS, with sub-Saharan Africa leading the way in cutting new HIV infections and deaths. However, the world is not on track to meet UNAIDS 2030 targets, with a quarter of people living with HIV not receiving treatment.
The study finds significant disparities in well-being among racial and ethnic groups, as well as across sex and age groups. American Indian and Alaska Native individuals, and Black males, face the most significant challenges to overall well-being.
Global life expectancy is forecasted to increase from 73.6 years in 2022 to 78.1 years in 2050, with a convergence of increased life expectancy across geographies. The trend is largely driven by public health measures that have prevented and improved survival rates from cardiovascular diseases, COVID-19, and other communicable diseases.
The Global Burden of Diseases study reveals a 49.4% increase in global disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to metabolism-related risk factors between 2000 and 2021. High blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high BMI are key contributors to poor health and early death.
Global disease burden rates dropped by 14.2% between 2010 and 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted this trend, causing a 4.1% increase in disease burden in 2020 and a 7.2% increase in 2021.
The study found that reductions in deaths from chronic respiratory diseases, stroke, lower respiratory infections, and cancer led to the largest net gain in life expectancy between 1990 and 2021. The super-region of Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Oceania had the largest net gain, while South Asia had the second-largest increase primari...
A new study reveals that COVID-19 had a profound impact on global life expectancy, with a 1.6-year drop from 2019 to 2021, while child mortality rates continued to decrease by 7% in 2021 compared to 2019. The study found that some countries experienced high excess mortality due to the pandemic.
A new study reveals antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is responsible for a staggering 25% of mortality in the WHO African region, with lower respiratory infections emerging as primary causes. The four most prevalent pathogens, Streptococcus pneumoniae and others, are individually linked to over 100,000 deaths.
A new study projects nearly 1 billion people will be living with osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, by 2050. Currently, 15% of individuals aged 30 and older experience osteoarthritis, with obesity being a major risk factor.
The study estimates more than two of every five deaths in the Americas were associated with AMR in 2019, accounting for 11.5% of global deaths. The four most fatal infectious syndromes were bacterial respiratory infections, bloodstream infections, and urinary tract infections.
A new Lancet study reveals persistent disparities in mortality rates among five racial-ethnic groups and 3,110 US counties from 2000 to 2019. Cardiovascular diseases and neoplasms were the leading causes of death, with significant gaps between racial-ethnic groups.
A new study reveals that nearly 2 billion people worldwide suffer from anemia, with women and children disproportionately affected. Anemia rates have declined among men, but progress has been slow for women and children, driven by factors such as access to nutrition, socioeconomic status, and unmet need for contraception.
The global prevalence of diabetes is expected to more than double from 6.1% to 12.8% by 2050, with every country experiencing an increase. The study found that high body mass index and dietary risks are primary contributors to type 2 diabetes.
A new study reveals sickle cell disease is far deadlier than its textbook description, with a total mortality burden of 373,000 deaths in 2021. The condition disproportionately affects children, adolescents, and young adults worldwide, highlighting the need for universal newborn screening and early intervention.
The report shows total health-related financial assistance to fight COVID-19 in LMICs reached a record $37.8 billion in the first two years of the pandemic. However, despite significant spending, many countries still struggle with substantial funding gaps, which are critical to tackle the next global health threat.
Pakistan's health challenges have been compounded by natural disasters, including the 2022 floods, which affected over 33 million people. The country is experiencing a slowdown in reducing maternal and child mortality, high fertility rates, and persistent gender disparities.
The WHO European Region sees high mortality rates due to antimicrobial resistance, with countries implementing national actions plans showing lower AMR burden. Developing new treatments and improving hygiene are crucial strategies to combat this growing health threat.
A new star rating system, published in Nature Medicine, provides clear and easy-to-understand guidance on the strength of evidence for links between various risk factors and health outcomes. The analysis found that nearly two-thirds of risk-outcome pairs received only a one- or two-star rating, indicating weaker associations.
A global shortage of health workers poses a significant threat to effective health coverage worldwide. The study estimates that over 43 million more health workers are needed to meet targets for universal health coverage.
The study found that cancer was the second leading cause of death globally in 2019, accounting for 10 million deaths and 23 million new cases. Despite increases in absolute burden, global age-standardized mortality and incidence rates decreased by 5.9% and 1.1%, respectively.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a 35.7% increase in global development assistance for health in 2020, reaching $13.7 billion. However, this surge still falls short of the estimated $33 billion to $62 billion needed to address the pandemic in low- and middle-income countries.
Researchers analyzed data on over 20,000 COVID-19 patients and found that mortality rates fell by 38% between March and May 2020, but remained stable thereafter. The study suggests that overloaded hospitals and changes in treatment may be contributing factors.
A new scientific study examines vaccine delivery in low- and middle-income nations, finding higher vaccination rates in urban areas than rural communities. The study highlights the need for policymakers to target both urban and remote locations to equitably vaccinate all children.
A study published in The Lancet Public Health found that modifiable health risks, such as obesity and high blood pressure, account for 27% of US personal health care expenses. These costs are largely driven by five risk factors: overweight and obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, poor diet, and smoking.
A new study projects that 3.1 billion people will still lack effective health service coverage in 2023, falling short of the WHO goal. Sub-Saharan Africa showed accelerated gains in performance since 2010.
A new study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation found that over 2 billion people worldwide lack access to soap and clean water, increasing their risk of contracting and transmitting COVID-19. The study highlights the need for long-term solutions to protect against the virus and its devastating impact on public health.