Injury Burden in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 1990–2023: A Global Burden of Disease Study

Background: Injuries are a major cause of death and disability worldwide and impose a substantial burden on countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), particularly those affected by conflict, political instability, and fragile health systems. We assessed trends and patterns in injury-related mortality and disability in the EMR using estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 study·MethodsWe conducted a secondary analysis of GBD 2023 estimates for the 22 EMR countries from 1990 to 2023. Injury mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were examined by gender, age group, country, and injury cause. Estimates were reported as numbers and age-standardized rates per 100,000 population with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs)·

Findings: In 2023, injuries accounted for an estimated 379,711 deaths in the EMR, representing 7·8% of global injury deaths, with an age-standardized mortality rate of 49·38 deaths per 100,000 population (95% UI 42·89–54·79). Mortality rates were higher among males than females (76·77 vs 34·83 per 100,000). Palestine, Libya, and Somalia had the highest mortality rates, whereas Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain had the lowest. Unintentional injuries were the leading cause of injury deaths, followed by transport injuries and self-harm and interpersonal violence. The injury burden totalled 27·6 million DALYs in 2023, with substantial variation across countries and marked increases in conflict-affected settings·InterpretationAlthough injury mortality and DALY rates declined overall between 1990 and 2023, progress was uneven and frequently disrupted by conflict and political instability. Strengthening injury prevention strategies, health-system resilience, and regional cooperation is essential to reduce the persistent burden of injuries in the EMR·FundingNo specific funding was received for this study.