The main causes of poor health impacting quality of life are low back pain, depressive disorders and headaches, according to a new global research published in The Lancet journal.
The study analyzed healthy life expectancy during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and found that even though people around the world are living longer, ”they aren’t spending all those years in good health.”
”With low back pain, the leading cause of poor health globally, we see that the existing treatments aren’t working well to address it,” said co-first author Damian Santo Mauro, affiliate assistant professor of the Health Metrics Sciences at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, US.
”We need better tools to manage this major cause of global disease burden,” he added.
In contrast, Santo Mauro said that for depressive disorders, therapy or medication or a combination of both for an adequate amount of time can work. ”However, most people in the world have little or no access to treatment, unfortunately,” he said. ”Considering how depression increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s urgent to ensure that everyone with this disorder can get treatment,” he further said.
Examining how men and women responded to COVID-19, the researchers found that women suffered more than men when it came to the secondary effects of the viral infection, involving long COVID and mental disorders, even as men were more likely to die from the infection than women.
Women were found to be twice as likely as men to experience long COVID, and most likely to be affected by depression, seen to increase sharply during the pandemic.
The researchers presented updated estimates from the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) study 2021, which analyzed data from 204 countries and territories. The GBD study is the largest and most comprehensive effort to quantify health loss across places and over time, according to the IHME, which coordinates it.
FAQs on Main Causes of Poor Health: Study Findings
What are the main causes of poor health impacting quality of life according to the research published in The Lancet journal?
The main causes of poor health impacting quality of life, as highlighted in the research, are low back pain, depressive disorders, and headaches.
What is the leading cause of poor health globally according to the research?
Low back pain is identified as the leading cause of poor health globally in the research findings.
How effective are existing treatments for low back pain, according to the study?
Existing treatments for low back pain are reported to not work well in addressing the issue, indicating a need for better management tools.
What are the recommended treatments for depressive disorders based on the research?
Therapy, medication, or a combination of both for an adequate duration of time are recommended for treating depressive disorders, although access to treatment remains a challenge for many worldwide
How did men and women differ in their response to COVID-19, according to the research?
Women were found to suffer more from the secondary effects of COVID-19, including long COVID and mental disorders, while men were more likely to die from the infection.
Except FAQs, This report is given by Press Trust of India (PTI). The Sen Times holds no responsibility for its content.