A related editorial comments that the overall findings show the world is becoming healthier, but progress is uneven. People are living longer, but with more disease. While there is an expansion of morbidity as life expectancy increases, there is a relative compression of morbidity (less time spent with ill health) as a country becomes richer.
Certain health issues need specific attention in different countries; these challenges will require strengthening of the health system, together with more vertical initiatives. The authors propose that WHO, the World Bank, and other technical and multilateral agencies join together annually to discuss the GBD findings, and how they should influence decision making.