Peer-reviewed article
Population health outcomes in Qatar 1990-2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023.
Nashwan AJ, Abukhadijah HJ, Al-Mutawa MN, Abujaber AA, Jesaimani A et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This is a systematic analysis of population health outcomes in Qatar from 1990 to 2023 using Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 data. The study documents a shift from communicable diseases toward non-communicable diseases as the primary health burden, with improvements in maternal, neonatal, and infectious disease outcomes. The analysis identifies leading causes of mortality including ischaemic heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, along with risk factors such as high body-mass index and hypertension. Road traffic injuries remain a significant cause of premature death, particularly among young men.
Key points
- Qatar has substantially reduced the burden of communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases since 1990
- Non-communicable diseases now account for the majority of mortality and disability-adjusted life-years in Qatar
- Leading causes of NCD burden in 2023 were ischaemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, cancer, chronic kidney disease, and neurological disorders
- Road traffic injuries remain a leading cause of premature mortality, particularly among young men in Qatar's expatriate-dominated population
- High body-mass index, high fasting plasma glucose, hypertension, dietary risks, and tobacco use are the predominant modifiable risk factors
Limitations
This study does not evaluate specific interventions or policies, so it cannot measure what works to address health problems. The analysis is based on modelled estimates from secondary GBD data rather than original data collection specific to children.
Abstract
Background Patterns of health and disease in Qatar have shifted substantially over the past three decades, reflecting demographic expansion, economic transition, and significant improvements in health system capacity. A comprehensive, up-to-date evaluation of disease burden is essential to guide priority-setting, resource allocation, and national health planning. However, no prior study has systematically assessed long-term trends in morbidity, mortality, and risk factors in Qatar using the most recent epidemiological data consistent with the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study framework. This study addresses this gap by providing a detailed analysis of population health outcomes in Qatar from 1990 to 2023. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of publicly available Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 modelled estimates of mortality, prevalence, incidence, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), years of life lost (YLLs), and risk factor-attributable disease burden in Qatar. Data sources included vital registration records, hospital and registry datasets, survey data, and modelled estimates, as appropriate. Changes were examined across three major cause categories: non-communicable diseases (NCDs), communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional (CMNN) diseases, and injuries-over four analytic periods (1990-2000, 2000-2015, 2015-2023, and 1990-2023). Uncertainty intervals (UIs) were derived from 250 posterior draws. The study followed GBD guidelines for reporting and estimation transparency. Findings Qatar has achieved substantial progress in reducing the burden of CMNN diseases since 1990, driven by expanded immunisation coverage, improved maternal and neonatal care, and strengthened primary health services. However, the burden of NCDs has risen markedly and now accounts for the majority of mortality and DALYs. The leading contributors to NCD burden in 2023 were ischaemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, cancer, chronic kidney disease, and neurological disorders. High body-mass index, high fasting plasma glucose, hypertension, dietary risks, and tobacco use were the predominant metabolic and behavioural risk factors. Road traffic injuries remained a leading cause of premature mortality, particularly among young men, reflecting Qatar's predominantly male working-age expatriate population and high rates of occupational and vehicular mobility. COVID-19 temporarily reversed declines in infectious disease burden during 2020-2021, although trends returned to levels consistent with the 2018 pre-pandemic trajectory by 2023. Interpretation The epidemiological profile of Qatar is characterised by declining infectious disease burden and rising chronic disease and injury burden, shaped by demographic composition and lifestyle transitions. Addressing the growing impact of NCDs and injuries will require sustained preventive strategies, population-level risk factor reduction, strengthened primary care for chronic disease management, and coordinated multisectoral policy responses targeting diet, physical activity, road safety, and occupational health. These findings provide an evidence base to support national health planning and ongoing progress toward equitable and sustainable population health in Qatar. Funding The publication of this study was funded by the Medical Research Center (MRC)at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Doha, Qatar.