Injury Morbidity and Mortality Among Older Adults and Elderly in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR): Findings from the Global Burden of Disease 1990-2019

Background: Injury poses a major threat to older adults and elderly health and longevity. The increased longevity in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), warrants further understanding of the aging population inevitable changing health demands and challenges. This study examines injury morbidity and mortality among elderly populations aged 50 years and above in the 22 EMR countries and analyzes these outcomes based on Socio-demographic Index (SDI), Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ), and risk factors. Methods: Drawing on data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019, we categorized the population into older adults (50-69), and elderly (70 and above). We reported injury-related mortality rates; Years of Life Lost (YLLs); Years lived with Disability (YLDs) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs); Socio-Demographic Index (SDI); Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ), and Risk Factors of injury deaths in the EMR between 1990 and 2019. Findings: Estimated Injury death rates in EMR exceeded the global rates in 2019. Males had higher injury mortality rates compared to females. Transport injuries were the leading cause of deaths in older adults (43.0 (UI 31.0-51.8)) and elderly (66.2 (UI 52.5-75.5)) per 100,000.  Conflict and terrorism were major causes of injury mortality for both age groups. The highest annual percent change in death rates due to injury between 1990 and 2019 was observed in Afghanistan among the elderly (5.5). The leading cause of DALYs was transport injuries for older adults at 1,798.8 (UI 1,394.1-2,116.0) and unintentional injuries for elderly at 2,013.2 (UI 1,682.2-2,408.7) per 100,000. The leading injury mortality risk factors were occupational exposure in older adults and low bone mineral density in the elderly. High SDI and HAQ scores in EMR countries were significantly associated with healthy life expectancy at 50 and 70 years. Interpretation: Injuries remains a major health problem in EMR countries, posing a real threat to older adults and elderlies, mainly due to transport and violence related injuries. Dedicated efforts should be implemented to ensure elderly-appropriate injury prevention strategies, cost-effective injury programs tailored to the need of local healthcare systems and to curtail injury-associated risk and promote healthy aging. Funding Information: This research was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Declaration of Interests: All authors declare that they have no competing interests.