We estimated global attributable mortality and DALYs with uncertainty for 1990, and 2010, for each of the 67 risk factors and clusters of risk factors (table 3, 4). The appendix shows full results by region, year, age, and sex for attributable deaths and DALYs. Because of the interest in the combined effects of multiple risk factors, we have approximated the joint effects of clusters of risk factors assuming that risk factors included in each cluster are independent. However, risk factors included in a cluster are not necessarily independent; for example, a substantial part of the burden attributable to high body-mass index is mediated through high blood pressure and high fasting plasma glucose. Others act together and risk factor exposures might be correlated at the individual level,155 especially household air pollution and ambient particulate matter pollution, which might have common sources.
