The Global Burden of Disease in Essex

The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), is the world's most comprehensive measure of health. It provides consistent, comparable estimates of how much ill health, disability and early death is caused by different diseases and risk factors - summed up in a single measure, the disability-adjusted life year (DALY).

This report applies that evidence to Essex. Using the latest GBD data (2021) alongside local sources, it sets out what drives the greatest loss of healthy years in the county, from heart disease and cancer to musculoskeletal and mental health conditions. It also examines the modifiable risks behind them, such as tobacco, poor diet and obesity. It also looks beneath the county average to reveal a gap of more than 20 years in healthy life expectancy between Essex's healthiest and least healthy neighbourhoods.

Understanding this matters because it shows not just what to tackle, but where, helping direct prevention and services to the communities that need them most.

This report forms part of the Essex Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA). It uses Global Burden of Disease methodology to quantify the impact of illness, disability and premature mortality across Essex. The analysis provides an evidence base for prioritising prevention, healthcare commissioning and action to reduce health inequalities.