Mortality and Disability Attributable to Adverse Medical Treatment Effects in India: Insights from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study

Patient harm due to unsafe medical care can result in hospitalization, long-term disability, or death. In India, where access to tertiary healthcare varies widely across its large and heterogeneous population, there is limited research evaluating the burden of adverse medical events. This study assessed the impact of adverse effects of medical treatment (AEMT) in India between 2010 and 2019 using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 study. We estimated national-level deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) associated with AEMT, further analyzing differences across age groups and genders. Findings indicate that AEMT accounts for less than 0.01% of all-cause deaths and DALYs. From 2010 to 2019, the death rate showed a marginal decline from 2.34 (1.75–2.66) to 2.33 (1.73–2.86) per 100,000 population. The 50–74-year age group and females experienced the highest burden in terms of both deaths and DALYs. Although AEMT contributes minimally to overall mortality, its potential underreporting and effects on public confidence in healthcare merit further research.