Key Facts
- Musculoskeletal conditions include joint diseases such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis; back and neck pain; osteoporosis and fragility fractures; soft tissue rheumatism; injuries due to sports and in the workplace; and trauma commonly related to road traffic accidents
- They cause pain, physical disability and loss of personal and economic independence
- They affect millions of people of all ages in all cultures and in all countries
- Current estimates of people affected worldwide (Lancet December 15, 2012)
- Back pain 632.045 million
- Neck pain 332.049 million
- Osteoarthritis of the knee 250.785 million
- Other musculoskeletal conditions 560.978 million
- They are the second greatest cause of disability, as measured by years lived with disability (YLDs) worldwide and across most regions of the world (Lancet December 15, 2012)
- As a group musculoskeletal disorders cause 213% of all years lived with disability (YLDs) (this is second only to mental and behavioral disorders which account for 22.7% of YLDs)
- The main contributors are low back pain (83.1 million YLDs), neck pain (33.6 million YLDs), osteoarthritis (17.1 million YLDs) and the other musculoskeletal category. Osteoarthritis of the knee accounts for 83% of the osteoarthritis total.
- The leading cause of disability worldwide is low back pain contributing 10.7% of total YLDs (major depression contributes 8.1%).
- They have the fourth greatest impact on the health of the world population, considering both death and disability (DALYs) (Lancet December 15, 2012)
- Musculoskeletal disorders account for 6.8% of DALYs
- Low back pain accounts for nearly one half, neck pain one fifth, and osteoarthritis about 10%.
- Ranking of major causes of death and disability (% DALYs)
- Cardiovascular and circulatory diseases 11.8%
- All neoplasms 7.6%
- Mental and behavioral disorders 7.4%
- Musculoskeletal disorders 6.8%
- Disability due to musculoskeletal disorders is estimated to have increased by 45% from 1990 to 2010 (Lancet) compared to a 33% average across all other disease areas. Osteoarthritis is the fastest increasing major health condition. This relates to aging of the population, increased obesity and lack of physical activity.
- Disability due to musculoskeletal conditions can be effectively prevented by currently available interventions, such as accident prevention, modern treatment of arthritis and injuries, and by rehabilitation.
- The growing burden can be controlled if priority and resources are given to ensure access to these interventions.
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