Comparing cutaneous research funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases with 2010 Global Burden of Disease results.

Chante Karimkhani,Hannah Pederson,Lindsay N Boyers,Cory A Dunnick,Mohsen Naghavi,Luc E Coffeng,Christopher J L Murray,Hywel C Williams,Robert P Dellavalle,David J Margolis,Luigi Naldi,Roderick J Hay,Theo Vos,Martin A Weinstock

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0102122

Abstract

ImportanceDisease burden data helps guide research prioritization.ObjectiveTo determine the extent to which grants issued by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) reflect disease burden, measured by disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2010 project.DesignTwo investigators independently assessed 15 skin conditions studied by GBD 2010 in the NIAMS database for grants issued in 2013. The 15 skin diseases were matched to their respective DALYs from GBD 2010.SettingThe United States NIAMS database and GBD 2010 skin condition disability data.Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s)Relationship of NIAMS grant database topic funding with percent total GBD 2010 DALY and DALY rank for 15 skin conditions.ResultsDuring fiscal year 2013, 1,443 NIAMS grants were issued at a total value of $424 million. Of these grants, 17.7% covered skin topics. Of the total skin disease funding, 82% (91 grants) were categorized as “general cutaneous research.” Psoriasis, leprosy, and “other skin and subcutaneous diseases” (ie; immunobullous disorders, vitiligo, and hidradenitis suppurativa) were over-represented when funding was compared with disability. Conversely, cellulitis, decubitus ulcer, urticaria, acne vulgaris, viral skin diseases, fungal skin diseases, scabies, and melanoma were under-represented. Conditions for which disability and funding appeared well-matched were dermatitis, squamous and basal cell carcinoma, pruritus, bacterial skin diseases, and alopecia areata.Conclusions and RelevanceDegree of representation in NIAMS is partly correlated with DALY metrics. Grant funding was well-matched with disability metrics for five of the 15 studied skin diseases, while two skin diseases were over-represented and seven were under-represented. Global burden estimates provide increasingly transparent and important information for investigating and prioritizing national research funding allocations.

Highlights

The 2010 Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD 2010) synthesizes data from 187 countries covering 291 diseases and injuries, 1160 sequelae, and 67 risk factors from 1990 to 2010 [1]
Of the total skin disease funding, 82% (91 grants) were categorized as ‘‘general cutaneous research.’’ Psoriasis, leprosy, and ‘‘other skin and subcutaneous diseases’’ were overrepresented when funding was compared with disability
Degree of representation in NIAMS is partly correlated with disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) metrics

Summary

Introduction

The 2010 Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD 2010) synthesizes data from 187 countries covering 291 diseases and injuries, 1160 sequelae, and 67 risk factors from 1990 to 2010 [1]. GBD 2010 measures disease burden in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), a population health metric that combines mortality and morbidity by summing years of life lost and years lived with disability into one numerical value [2,3]. Policy makers, and healthcare providers all face the dilemma of fairly allocating limited resources [4,5]. These stakeholders use data and criteria driven processes to determine priorities and reduce knowledge gaps [2,6]. Epidemiological information and disease burden estimates contribute to these efforts

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