Objective: To analyze the disease burden caused by low body weight in children under 5 years old in China from 1990 to 2010.
Methods: The analysis was conducted on the low body weight related deaths, years lived with disability (YLD), years of life lost (YLL) and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) in children aged <5 years in China from 1990 to 2010 by using the data for the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2010 (GBD2010). The annual low body weight related deaths, YLL, YLD and DALY from 1990 to 2010 were compared.
Results: Among the children aged <5 years, 2 271 deaths and 295 300 person-years DALY were attributable to low body weight in 2010. Compared with 1990, the number of deaths and DALY attributed to low body weight decreased by 96.75% and 95.46% respectively. In 2010, the YLD and YLL attributable to low body weight in the children aged <5 years were 101 500 person-years and 193 800 person-years respectively. Compared with 1990, the YLD and YLL caused by low body weight in the children aged <5 years declined by 444 800 and 5.76 million person-years respectively.
Conclusion: Compared with 1990, the death and DALY, YLD and YLL attributable to low body weight in the children aged <5 years significantly declined in 2010. Considering the serious impact of death to loss of life in young age group, the effects and burden of disease caused by low body weight in the children aged <5 years should not be neglected in China.