Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) are a measure used to assess the overall burden of disease on a population. One DALY represents one lost year of healthy life, combining years of life lost due to premature death and years lived with disability. This metric helps public health officials understand the impact of various health issues. DALYs are useful for comparing the effectiveness of health interventions and prioritizing resources. By quantifying the total health loss, policymakers can make informed decisions to improve health outcomes and allocate funding more effectively across different diseases and conditions, such as cancer or diabetes.