Global Outlook for Disability Adjusted Life Years: Brain and Central Nervous System Cancers

Authors : Yunus Emre Karataş, Songül Çınaroğlu

Pages : 100-106

Doi:10.37990/medr.1536199

View : 22 | Download : 68

Publication Date : 2025-01-15

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Aim: In 2019, brain and central nervous system cancers were listed among the top 5 causes of death in men and women by absolute Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY) burden globally. In this respect, it is important to define the current global status of deaths from neurological disorders and brain and central nervous system cancers. In this study, we aimed to examine the burden of disease metrics of deaths from neurological disorders and brain and central nervous system cancers in 204 different countries/regions by categorizing the countries. Material and Method: Brain and central nervous system cancer DALYs, motor neuron disease deaths and multiple sclerosis deaths of 204 different countries were obtained from the \\\"GBD Compare\\\" tool of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. The k-means clustering algorithm, also known as unsupervised machine learning algorithm, was used to categorize the countries. The number of clusters was determined by the Silhouette score (s). The statistical difference between the medians of two independent groups was analyzed by Mann-Whitney U Test. Results: According to the silhouette score obtained using the K-Means algorithm, the number of clusters was determined as 2 (s=0.684). Cluster I included 135 countries (African and Asian countries) and Cluster II included 65 countries (European and North American countries). The median (min; max) values of Cluster II countries for brain and central nervous system cancer DALYs, Multiple Sclerosis deaths and Motor Neuron Disease deaths variables were 201.77 (147.65;375.16), 0.62 (0.00;2.21), 1.13 (0.00;4.65), while the median (min; max) values of Cluster I countries are 64.50 (6.29;134.99), 0.04 (0.00;0.67), 0.00 (0.00;2.36), respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion: The group of developed countries in Europe and North America has been found to have more deaths from neurological diseases and more DALYs from brain and central nervous system cancers. When the countries in the groups are evaluated, it is concluded that the geographical proximity and development level of the countries have a significant effect on the variables used in the grouping.
Keywords : Brain neoplasms, cluster analysis, disability adjusted life years, global burden of disease