GLOBAL EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE DISEASE BURDEN OF OSTEOARTHRITIS IN 2023
Author(s)
Luca F. Kajos, PhD1, Bálint Molics, MSc, PhD2, Dalma Pónusz-Kovács, MSc3, Bettina Kovács, BSc, MSc3, József Bódis, MD, PhD, Habil4, Imre Boncz, MSc, PhD, MD1;
1Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Institute for Health Insurance, Pécs, Hungary, 2Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Institute of Physiotherapy and Sport Science, Pécs, Hungary, 3Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Pécs, Hungary, 4University of Pécs, National Laboratory on Human Reproduction, Pécs, Hungary
1Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Institute for Health Insurance, Pécs, Hungary, 2Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Institute of Physiotherapy and Sport Science, Pécs, Hungary, 3Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Pécs, Hungary, 4University of Pécs, National Laboratory on Human Reproduction, Pécs, Hungary
OBJECTIVES: Osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, particularly among older adults. The aim of this study was to analyse the global epidemiological burden of osteoarthritis using the most recent data from the Global Burden of Disease Study, focusing on the year 2023.
METHODS: The epidemiological burden of osteoarthritis was assessed using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD 2023) provided by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). We analysed prevalence, incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and years lived with disability (YLDs) at the global level. Results were examined in terms of crude and age-standardized rates, stratified by sex, and by anatomical localization of osteoarthritis.
RESULTS: In 2023, the global prevalence of osteoarthritis was 8.13%, corresponding to 7,877.55 cases per 100,000 population. The age-standardized prevalence was 7.16% (6,909.25 per 100,000 population). The prevalence increased markedly with advancing age across all age groups. The global incidence of osteoarthritis was 0.12%, corresponding to 595.07 new cases per 100,000 population. Marked sex differences were observed: the prevalence was 6.44% in men (6,184.21 per 100,000) and 9.80% in women (9,583.91 per 100,000). The burden of disease attributable to osteoarthritis accounted for 0.79% of total global DALYs, with 277.19 DALYs per 100,000 population. Osteoarthritis was responsible for 2.23% of total global YLDs. Regarding joint involvement, knee osteoarthritis was the most prevalent (5.01%), followed by hand (2.61%), other joints (0.84%), and hip osteoarthritis (0.48%).
CONCLUSIONS: The 2023 GBD data confirm that osteoarthritis remains a major and progressively age-related contributor to global disability, with a pronounced female predominance and a disease profile dominated by knee and hand involvement. These patterns indicate that future health system responses should prioritize early detection, prevention, and resource planning strategies that explicitly account for demographic and anatomical differences in disease burden.
METHODS: The epidemiological burden of osteoarthritis was assessed using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD 2023) provided by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). We analysed prevalence, incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and years lived with disability (YLDs) at the global level. Results were examined in terms of crude and age-standardized rates, stratified by sex, and by anatomical localization of osteoarthritis.
RESULTS: In 2023, the global prevalence of osteoarthritis was 8.13%, corresponding to 7,877.55 cases per 100,000 population. The age-standardized prevalence was 7.16% (6,909.25 per 100,000 population). The prevalence increased markedly with advancing age across all age groups. The global incidence of osteoarthritis was 0.12%, corresponding to 595.07 new cases per 100,000 population. Marked sex differences were observed: the prevalence was 6.44% in men (6,184.21 per 100,000) and 9.80% in women (9,583.91 per 100,000). The burden of disease attributable to osteoarthritis accounted for 0.79% of total global DALYs, with 277.19 DALYs per 100,000 population. Osteoarthritis was responsible for 2.23% of total global YLDs. Regarding joint involvement, knee osteoarthritis was the most prevalent (5.01%), followed by hand (2.61%), other joints (0.84%), and hip osteoarthritis (0.48%).
CONCLUSIONS: The 2023 GBD data confirm that osteoarthritis remains a major and progressively age-related contributor to global disability, with a pronounced female predominance and a disease profile dominated by knee and hand involvement. These patterns indicate that future health system responses should prioritize early detection, prevention, and resource planning strategies that explicitly account for demographic and anatomical differences in disease burden.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EPH20
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
SDC: Musculoskeletal Disorders (Arthritis, Bone Disorders, Osteoporosis, Other Musculoskeletal)