ABSTRACT:
The 2024 update of burden of disease estimates in the Netherlands “Dutch DALYs” provides an integrated picture of current and future population health in the Netherlands, with direct implications for prevention and health care planning. The study revises years of life lost (YLL), years lost due to disability (YLD), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for over 120 diseases and 100 risk factors, using updated mortality data to 2022, revised disability weights and severity distributions, and new exposure and relative risk data. Embedded in the Dutch Public Health Foresight project, the study generates projections of disease burden and prevalence from 2022 to 2050, linking epidemiological trends to demographic change and risk factor trajectories. This enables forward-looking assessment of where pressures on health and care will be greatest and which upstream determinants drive these patterns. Key findings include a sharp rise in the burden attributable to mental health problems, particularly depression and anxiety among younger populations, and a growing recognition of environmental and occupational determinants as important drivers of DALYs. The future increase of the burden caused by dementia, is one of the key challenges for the Dutch health care system. For policymakers, the updated Dutch DALYs provide an actionable evidence base to prioritize prevention, target high-burden conditions, and align healthcare resources with expected future needs. By combining comprehensive burden estimates with long-term projections, the 2024 study strengthens integrated, cross-sector responses to complex health challenges and supports efforts to improve public health and equity in the Netherlands.