Beatriz Zurita

Muerte prematura y discapacidad en los derechohabientes del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social

Objective: To carry out estimations of the burden of disease for 129 causes in order to identify health priorities in the different geographic regions of the country and to present comparative data between 1995 and 2000. Material and Methods. Indicators such as disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and disability adjusted life expectancy (DALE) were analyzed for the population covered by IMSS in 1995 and 2000; for both years, the methodology proposed by the Burden of Disease Worldwide Study was applied. Data corresponding to 1995 were analyzed in 1997, while data corresponding to 2000 were analyzed in 2001. The comparative study was carried out in 2006 by IMSS, Mexico. Results. The higher proportion of DALYs was due to chronic diseases, although the 2000 rate is 1.5 times higher than that of 1995. Priorities that were identified were diabetes mellitus, ischemic cardiopathy, and cerebrovascular disease, with a loss that is mainly accounted for by premature death, as well as by diseases related to disability with an important burden of disease, such as AIDS or depression. Epidemiological backlogs can still be observed. Conclusion. The population covered by IMSS is still in a phase of epidemiologic transition, favoring polarization in health conditions. Health policies need to be directed toward bringing about an improved response and reversing the trend in diseases that represent an institutional risk for the financing of health care.