Burden of disease methods: integrating COVID-19 to the cause list

Abstract Until recently, most efforts to understand the comparative population health impact of COVID-19 have been made using mortality-based metrics. This has intensified discussion over methodological choices; in particular, how we value life-years prematurely lost due COVID-19. The direct on varied across countries, with wide variation incidence and infection fatality rates. Understanding quantifying combined morbidity mortality is a key step standardizing comparisons quantify within-country relative other causes disease injury, sub-national areas or demographics. Burden metrics, such as disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) offer means monitoring infection. They also opportunities assess indirect pandemic that occurred national lockdowns restrictions vital services. We present recommendations methodology for estimating DALYs at level. These include protocol calculations, data requirements approaches overcome gaps, consensus outcome, disability weights describe severity each outcome. standardized can allow more accurate comparable estimates burden populations.