The document discusses the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, which aims to quantify the health loss from diseases, injuries, and risk factors using the disability-adjusted life year (DALY) measure. The DALY combines years of life lost due to premature mortality and years lived with disability. The GBD 2010 study found that in 2010 there were 2.49 billion global DALYs, with 31.2% from non-fatal health outcomes and 68.8% from premature mortality. The burden of disease has shifted from communicable to noncommunicable diseases. The top causes of DALYs in 2010 were lower respiratory infections, ischemic heart disease, stroke, preterm birth complications, and road injury