Partnership in Norway

About the partnership

Originally created at NIPH as a pilot project in 2015, the NIPH Centre for Disease Burden was formally established in 2016 with a mission to work closely with IHME and the GBD study to provide a comprehensive overview of fatal and non-fatal health loss associated with various diseases, injuries, and risk factors in Norway. 

The research and policy reports of the Centre use the GBD to provide decision-makers in Norway and the Nordic region with a solid foundation for evidence-based policymaking. The Centre also plays an active role in enhancing collaboration between GBD Collaborators, public health institutions, and universities in the Nordic countries. 

Supported by IHME, the Centre has organized regular convenings and in-person workshops aimed at strengthening knowledge of the GBD in Norway and the Nordic region and encouraging regional collaboration.

What are the major findings?

According to the most recent GBD studies, Norwegian mortality rates have decreased over time, with the majority of deaths occurring in old age. As the country faces the challenge of an aging population, there has been a decrease in the disease burden of causes that mostly contribute to mortality, such as cardiovascular disease, while non-fatal causes have gained greater importance. While ischemic heart disease causes the most disease burden among men, low back pain is at the top among women. 

Since 2011, results show an increase in the burden of disease due to depression and pain conditions, such as low back pain and headache disorders, as well as gynecological diseases. The burden of disease due to diabetes has also increased during this period, especially among men. Approximately one-third of Norway’s disease burden can be attributed to preventable risk factors.