This map depicts the ratios between the numbers of incident instances attributed to incidence price modifications and people attributed to inhabitants growing old in 204 nations and territories, 1990-2021. “Not applicable” signifies inhabitants deaging related decreases in incident instances. Credit score: Annals of the Rheumatic Illnesses / Guan et al.
Novel analysis exhibits that in roughly one third of nations and territories worldwide, inhabitants growing old was the most important contributor to the rising burden of musculoskeletal issues from 1990 to 2021.
The research within the Annals of the Rheumatic Illnesses, is poised to tell focused public well being methods and well being care useful resource allocation to alleviate the worldwide burden and financial impression of those issues.
Musculoskeletal issues—situations like arthritis, osteoporosis, and again ache—are among the many main causes of incapacity globally. As the worldwide inhabitants ages at an accelerating tempo, so do the related well being and financial challenges.
Whereas a rising concern, little was identified about to what extent the growing burden of musculoskeletal issues is instantly pushed by inhabitants growing old itself, versus different elements like inhabitants development.
This new research quantified the online impact of inhabitants growing old on the worldwide burden and well being care prices of those issues.
Utilizing the International Burden of Illness 2021 knowledge, researchers disentangled the consequences of inhabitants growing old from these of inhabitants development and modifications in age-specific epidemiological charges, whereas accounting for geographic variation, sociodemographic elements, intercourse variations, and main musculoskeletal subcategories. In addition they estimated well being care prices of musculoskeletal issues attributed to inhabitants growing old.
“Population aging is an inevitable global trend, but its impact on musculoskeletal disorders is not equally distributed. Our study shows that middle-income countries are experiencing the steepest proportional increases yet often have the least prepared health care systems to respond,” explains lead investigator Hai-Feng Pan, MD, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Well being, Anhui Medical College, and Irritation and Immune Mediated Illnesses Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui, China.
This map exhibits well being care prices for musculoskeletal issues attributed to inhabitants growing old (million US$) in 204 nations and territories, 2021. “Not applicable” signifies inhabitants deaging related decreases in prevalent instances. Credit score: Annals of the Rheumatic Illnesses / Guan et al.
Key findings embody:
In about one third of nations and territories, inhabitants growing old was the most important contributor to the growing burden of musculoskeletal issues.
Center-income nations bore the very best proportional burden of musculoskeletal issues from inhabitants growing old, regardless of having youthful populations than high-income nations. This displays the speedy demographic shift in these nations mixed with restricted well being system readiness to fulfill older adults’ wants.
Globally, males skilled a better impression of inhabitants growing old, significantly in high- and high-middle-income nations. Ladies have been extra affected in low- to middle-income nations.
Osteoarthritis was essentially the most affected musculoskeletal dysfunction globally, adopted by gout and rheumatoid arthritis.
Inhabitants aging-related musculoskeletal issues price US$96 billion in world well being care prices in 2021, equal to 0.10% of the worldwide gross home product (GDP), surpassing the prices attributed to frequent modifiable threat elements.
“This research has confirmed that population growth and aging of populations in all countries drive most of these increases, and the study’s uniqueness lies in its inclusion of the financial impact on societies aiming to deliver health care for musculoskeletal conditions,” feedback main authority within the subject Professor Lyn March, AM, MBBS, Ph.D., International Burden of Illnesses (GBD), Principal Collaborator; International Alliance for Musculoskeletal Well being (GMUSC), Govt Co-Lead; and Professor of Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Epidemiology, College of Sydney and Kolling Institute, Australia.
“Musculoskeletal health is crying out for attention and costing individuals and societies physically, emotionally, and financially. If not now, when will there be a global strategy addressing the pain and mobility loss of the billions living with a musculoskeletal disorder?”
Co-lead investigator of the research, Shi-Yang Guan, MD, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Well being, Anhui Medical College, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical College, and Irritation and Immune Mediated Illnesses Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui, notes, “Our outcomes can assist policymakers prioritize interventions tailor-made to sociodemographic context, intercourse variations, and particular musculoskeletal issues, together with strengthening preventive measures, bettering long-term administration, and guaranteeing sustainable financing to deal with the rising prices attributed to inhabitants growing old.
“Ultimately, this could reduce disability, improve quality of life for older adults, and make health care systems more resilient.”
“This study is a wake-up call for politicians and other stakeholders in the European Union and other parts of the world to focus research efforts on understanding, preventing, and treating musculoskeletal disorders, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, in an aging population to ensure aging in health and with good quality of life,” provides Josef Smolen, MD, Medical College of Vienna, and Editor-in-Chief of the Annals of the Rheumatic Illnesses.
Extra info:
The impression of inhabitants ageing on musculoskeletal issues in 204 nations and territories, 1990-2021: world burden and healthcare prices, Annals of the Rheumatic Illnesses (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.ard.2025.08.002
Quotation:
Evaluation isolates inhabitants growing old as main driver of musculoskeletal issues (2025, September 16)
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