Direct estimation of life expectancy in the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2003

We estimated the life expectancy for 2003 for 23 provinces in the Islamic Republic of Iran using population and mortality data from the Ministry of Health and Medical Education. The underreporting of deaths above 4 years was corrected using the Brass Growth Balance method. We assumed that the distributions of population, deaths, and hence life expectancy in the 23 provinces were equal to those for all 28 provinces of the country. Thus we estimated life expectancy at birth to be 71.56 years for the total population [95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 71.52-71.62]; 70.09 [95% UI: 70.02-70.16] years for males, and 73.17 [95% UI: 73.10-73.24] years for females. Our estimates were higher than the model-based estimates of the Statistical Centre of Iran, United Nations agencies and the World Bank, due to differences in the estimation methods used

Health state valuation in Iran: an exercise on cardiovascular diseases using visual analogue scale method

Disability Weights [DWs] are main components for computing summary measure of population health [SMPH] and economic studies. They are specific for each community, but there are no previous studies in Iran. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of health state valuation [HSV] in Iranian population. Twelve cardiologists in 3 sessions of expert panels, defined 25 states, related to cardiovascular diseases [3 major and 22 specific diseases]. From January to March 2008, 80 persons in 4 groups including: physicians, patients, patients' families and general publics [each group 20], were interviewed and valuated the states, using visual analogue scale [VAS] method. SPSS[Registered] 15 for window[Registered] [SPSS Corporation, Chicago, Illinois] was used for statistical analysis. Data showed that the defined health states had various severities. All the 4 groups ranked the "3 major-diseases" and "very-mild" and "very-severe" states, similarly. Non-physicians were not able to differentiate among "valvular-diseases" and "pacemakers" properly. The reliability of responses was acceptable. VAS is an appropriate and reliable method for HSV in Iranian population. Non-physicians' opinions can be consider in major cardiac diseases. Valuation of more specific situations must perform by physicians

[ burden of disease and injury in Iran in the year 2003]

Disability-Adjusted Life Years [DALY] summarizes the fatal and nonfatal outcomes of diseases and injuries in one number and gives a quantitative assessment of the health of a population. Estimating the burden of diseases and injuries in Iran in terms of DALY both nationwide and in 6 provinces. We used slightly modified versions of the methods developed by the World Health Organization for estimating the burden of premature mortality, disability, and the DALY. The DALY rate per 100,000 was 21572 and 62% of this was life lost due to premature mortality; the remaining 38% was due to disability from diseases and injuries. Fifty-eight percent of the total DALYs had been lost due to non-communicable diseases, 28% due to external causes [injuries], and 14% due to communicable, maternal/ perinatal and nutritional illnesses. The group of diseases and injuries with the highest burden in males was intentional and unintentional injuries [2.789 million DALYs], while in the female population this position was held by mental disorders with 1.191 million DALYs. The single most important cause of burden was traffic accidents in males and ischemic heart disease in females. Disease burden showed considerable variability between different provinces. The profile of health and disease in Iran has generally shifted from the predominance of communicable, maternal/perinatal, and nutritional illnesses towards predominance of non-communicable diseases and injuries at the national level. These figures on disease burden at population level are the most objective evidence that can be used in policy making and management of health programs, health research, and resource development within the health sector