Investigating the Epidemiological Trend and Estimating the Burden of COVID-19 in the Iranian Population

The Burden of Disease study provides a comprehensive picture of mortality and disability across countries, time periods, age groups, and genders.

This study was conducted to determine the epidemiological trend and estimate the burden of COVID-19 in the Iranian population.

This cross-sectional study used the methods by theWorld Health Organization for the national burden of disease studies to estimate the years of life lost due to premature death and burden of disability (YLD), years of life lost from mortality (YLL), years of life lost due to disability diseases, and the total burden of death and disability in terms of disability-adjusted life years (DALY). The information to calculate the desired indicators for COVID-19 in Iranian population, including the number of deaths, the number of hospitalizations, and the costs of hospitalization and treatment of patients, was obtained from an insurance fund of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Excel software version 2017 is used to calculate 3 indicators.

The total DALY for COVID-19 in the Iranian population during the three-year study period was calculated to be 162,429 years, which is a significant figure. The disease burden showed an increasing trend in the study years and reached its peak in 2021, which aligns with the overall disease situation in the country. In general, the burden of disease was higher in men than in women.

The impact of COVID-19 on the population and its economic burden was substantial in the studied areas. Therefore, it is crucial to undertake careful planning in addressing these issues. Using economic burden studiesand examining their dimensions provides policymakers with sufficient evidence to allocate financial resources to vital sectors and adopt appropriate policies in critical situations.