Examining the Burden of COVID-19 in Southeast Iran from the Beginning of the Pandemic Until 2022

Introduction: COVID-19, an infectious disease that emerged in December 2019, has significantly burdened global health and economies. The current study was conducted to quantify the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic in southeast Iran from 2019 to 2022. Methods: A descriptive-analytical study was conducted using census data on all COVID-19-related deaths reported through the Vice-Chancellor of Health and Treatment at Jiroft University of Medical Sciences. The burden of disease was calculated using the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) index, which combines years of life lost (YLLs) due to premature death and years lived with disability (YLDs). Results and Discussion: The study found a total DALY of 37,294.4 and 2,434.8 per 100,000 population. The disease burden was calculated as 1,311.1 for men and 1,123.7 for women per 100,000 population. YLL accounted for 99.3% of the DALYs, while YLD contributed only 0.7%. Conclusion: The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in a substantial disease burden, primarily driven by premature deaths. While the impact of disability is less pronounced, it cannot be overlooked. Understanding both direct and indirect impacts is crucial for health policymakers to effectively allocate resources and address the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic.