Analysis reveals high burden of musculoskeletal disorders across the globe
Musculoskeletal disorders–which affect muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, and joints–can severely affect individuals’ physical and mental health, and they’re especially prevalent among aging adults. Although many researchers are studying these conditions and their rates in different regions of the world, no study to date has provided an overview of the burden of all musculoskeletal disorders. Investigators have now done so in Arthritis & Rheumatology, an official journal of the American College of Rheumatology.
For the analysis, researchers examined data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017, which assessed the extent of diseases and injuries across 21 regions and 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2017. Musculoskeletal disorders included rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, low back pain, neck pain, gout, and related conditions.
The team found that there were approximately 1.3 billion prevalent cases and 121,300 deaths due to musculoskeletal disorders in 2017, as wells as 138.7 million disability-adjusted life years, or the number of years lost due to ill-health, disability, or early death. The burden of these diseases generally increased with age for both sexes, was more prevalent among females, and was higher in developed countries.
Subscribe now to remove this ad, read unlimited articles, bookmark your favorite post and soo much more
“Our study describes the enormous global burden of disability from musculoskeletal conditions in a single paper,” said senior author Rachelle Buchbinder, MD, of the Cabrini Institute and Monash University, in Australia. “These conditions are under-recognized despite their enormous costs to individuals, the economy, and the health system. Also, there has been a lack of any significant decline in the burden from these conditions over time, which means that there is still insufficient emphasis on addressing the problem.”
Dr. Buchbinder noted that policy makers must be made aware of the size of this growing problem, especially in light of rapidly aging populations around the world. “A global response is needed, and this should be integrated with other strategies that can address some of the modifiable and important risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders, including obesity, poor nutrition, smoking, and sedentary lifestyles,” she said. “As well, there should be an emphasis on reducing low-value care for some of the most burdensome conditions such as low back pain and osteoarthritis that is contributing to the problem.”
The authors also stressed the need for standardized methods for collecting data on the prevalence and impact of musculoskeletal disorders across the world.
Source:
Journal Reference
Abstract
Objectives
To report level and trends of prevalence, deaths and disability adjusted life years (DALYs) due to musculoskeletal disorders categorized as low back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout and other musculoskeletal disorders, across 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2017 by age, sex and Socio‐Demographic Index (SDI), a composite of socio‐demographic factors).
Methods
Data were taken from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2017. Fatal and non‐fatal burden of musculoskeletal disorders were estimated using the Cause of Death Ensemble model (CODEm) and Bayesian meta‐regression tool respectively. Estimates were provided for all musculoskeletal disorders and the corresponding six categories at global, regional, and national levels from 1990 to 2017. Counts and age‐standardized rates per 100,000 population along with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) were reported for prevalence, deaths and DALYs.
Make more money selling and advertising your products and services for free on Ominy market. Click here to start selling now
Results
Subscribe now to remove this ad, read unlimited articles, bookmark your favorite post and soo much more
Globally, there were about 1.3 billion (95% UI: 1.2 to 1.4) prevalent cases, 121.3 thousand (95% UI: 105.6 to 126.2) deaths and 138.7 million (95% UI: 101.9 to 182.6) DALYs due to musculoskeletal disorders in 2017. Age‐standardized prevalence, death and DALY rates per 100,000 were 16,276.2 (95% UI: 15,495.5 to 17,145.8), 1.6 (95% UI: 1.4 to 1.6) and 1,720 (95% UI: 1,264.4 to 2,259.2) respectively.
Age‐standardized prevalence [‐1.6% (95% UI: ‐2.4 to ‐0.8)] and DALY rates [‐3.5% (95% UI: ‐4.7 to ‐2.3)] decreased slightly from 1990. The global point prevalence rate of musculoskeletal disorders in 2017 was higher in females than males and increased with age up to the oldest age group.
Globally, the proportion of prevalent cases due to categories of musculoskeletal disorders in 2017 was greatest for low back pain (36.8%) followed by other musculoskeletal disorders (21.5%), osteoarthritis (19.3%), neck pain (18.4%), gout (2.6%) and rheumatoid arthritis (1.3%). These proportions did not change appreciably compared with 1990. The burden due to musculoskeletal conditions was higher in developed countries.
Switzerland [23,346.0 (95% UI: 22,392.6 to 24,329.8)], Chile [23,007.9 (95% UI: 21,746.5 to 24,165.8)] and Denmark [22,166.1 (95% UI: 20,817.2 to 23,542.1)] were countries with the highest age‐standardized prevalence rates of musculoskeletal disorders in 2017. Chile [10.8% (95% UI: 6.6 to 15.4)], Benin [8.8% (95% UI: 6.7 to 11.1)] and El Salvador [8.5% (95% UI: 5.5 to 11.9)] showed the greatest increase from 1990.
Conclusions
There is a large burden of musculoskeletal disorders globally with some notable inter‐country variation. Some countries had twice the burden than other countries. Increasing population awareness regarding risk factors, consequences and evidence‐informed treatment strategies of musculoskeletal disorders with a focus on the older female population in developed countries is required, particularly for low back and neck pain and osteoarthritis which contribute a large burden among this cohort.
