Population Health and the Burden of Neuropsychological Disorder Profile in 5 Southern African Development Community Countries from 2001 – 2021
1
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1244
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:
Introduction Neuropsychological disorders significantly contribute to the global burden of disease and disability, with conditions like depression, epilepsy, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias (ADOD) leading to substantial Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) and Years Lived with Disabilities (YLDs) worldwide. As the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) shifts due to ageing populations and epidemiological transitions, neuropsychological disorders are emerging as a critical challenge, particularly in LMIC regions such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study utilised the open-access secondary GBD data from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation over a 20-year period (2001 – 2021). Five SADC countries were studied: Lesotho, Namibia, Mauritius, South Africa, and Zambia. Population health and burden was measured as per the World Health Organisation standards of age-standardised DALYs, YLDs, and mortality rates. Results Neurological and mental disorder burden steadily increased over the 20-year period for all countries. Neurological burden (DALYs) was increased by 10-fold in the elderly population (70+) due to ADOD in all countries. Mauritius was disproportionately affected by overall neurological burden, with DALYs estimates (1815.44 per 100000) being far higher than global estimates (1419.64 per 100000) in 2021. Zambia’s epilepsy burden (DALYs) was severely high in 2021 (690.41 per 100000) in comparison to global estimates (175.86 per 100 000). Lesotho was disproportionately affected by mental disorder burden (DALYs) in 2021 (2404.21 per 100000) in comparison with global estimates (1969.47 per 100000). The total leading causes of mental disorder DALYs for all countries were depressive disorders and anxiety disorders. Conclusions The novel findings of this study emphasise the dire state of neuropsychological burden in these SADC countries and calls for localised research, quick awareness and preventative intervention implementation. Specific focus should be placed on the ageing population, the increasing mental burden in Lesotho and epilepsy burden in Zambia.
Introduction Neuropsychological disorders significantly contribute to the global burden of disease and disability, with conditions like depression, epilepsy, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias (ADOD) leading to substantial Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) and Years Lived with Disabilities (YLDs) worldwide. As the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) shifts due to ageing populations and epidemiological transitions, neuropsychological disorders are emerging as a critical challenge, particularly in LMIC regions such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study utilised the open-access secondary GBD data from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation over a 20-year period (2001 – 2021). Five SADC countries were studied: Lesotho, Namibia, Mauritius, South Africa, and Zambia. Population health and burden was measured as per the World Health Organisation standards of age-standardised DALYs, YLDs, and mortality rates. Results Neurological and mental disorder burden steadily increased over the 20-year period for all countries. Neurological burden (DALYs) was increased by 10-fold in the elderly population (70+) due to ADOD in all countries. Mauritius was disproportionately affected by overall neurological burden, with DALYs estimates (1815.44 per 100000) being far higher than global estimates (1419.64 per 100000) in 2021. Zambia’s epilepsy burden (DALYs) was severely high in 2021 (690.41 per 100000) in comparison to global estimates (175.86 per 100 000). Lesotho was disproportionately affected by mental disorder burden (DALYs) in 2021 (2404.21 per 100000) in comparison with global estimates (1969.47 per 100000). The total leading causes of mental disorder DALYs for all countries were depressive disorders and anxiety disorders. Conclusions The novel findings of this study emphasise the dire state of neuropsychological burden in these SADC countries and calls for localised research, quick awareness and preventative intervention implementation. Specific focus should be placed on the ageing population, the increasing mental burden in Lesotho and epilepsy burden in Zambia.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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