UCLA Center for Health Policy Research

This report presents a new methodology for measuring the burden of disease and injury in populations. In so doing, the report advances our ability to understand the burden of ill health by incorporating the contributions of both premature death and disability. The analysis highlights the great disparities in health among the major racial and ethnic populations within Los Angeles and further highlights opportunities for targeted programs to reduce these disparities. Information from this report will be particularly helpful to public and private organizations with a public health mission. The information will cause us to reevaluate priorities and reallocate resources. The findings should also be very valuable to Service Planning Area and community-based planning efforts. Finally, the results give us a new benchmark to evaluate our future progress in achieving public health goals.