Comparative Epidemiological Burden of Osteoarthritis in Eastern Central and Western Europe Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Author(s)

Luca Fanni Kajos, PhD1, Bálint Molics, PhD2, Dalma Pónusz-Kovács, MSc1, Bettina Kovács, MSc1, Imre Boncz, MSc, PhD, MD1.
1Institute for Health Insurance, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary, 2Institute of Physiotherapy and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
OBJECTIVES: Osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of chronic pain and disability worldwide, with substantial regional differences in its epidemiological burden across Eastern, Central, and Western Europe. The aim of our study was to compare the epidemiological burden of osteoarthritis in these three European regions using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study.
METHODS: The epidemiological disease burden of osteoarthritis was analysed using the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) database for the year 2021. We compared prevalence, incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and years lived with disability (YLDs) related to osteoarthritis across Eastern (EE), Central (CE), and Western Europe (WE), disaggregated by sex, age group, and osteoarthritis type.
RESULTS: In 2021, the prevalence of osteoarthritis was 12,596.71 per 100,000 population in CE, 13,110.86 in EE, and 13,618.85 in WE, accounting for 13.00%, 13.64%, and 14.27% of the total regional prevalence, respectively. Age-standardized prevalence was highest in EE (7,906.11 per 100,000; 8.45%), followed by WE (7,113.44; 7.74%) and CE (6,948.51; 7.36%). Incidence was also highest in WE (895.97 per 100,000), followed by EE (886.56) and CE (833.00). The DALY rate was similarly distributed, with the highest burden in WE (487.28 per 100,000; 1.54% of total DALYs), followed by EE (467.01; 0.9%) and CE (446.32; 1.01%). YLDs accounted for 3.36% in WE, 3.27% in EE, and 3.18% in CE. In all regions, prevalence was higher among women and increased with age. While the knee joint was most commonly affected in CE and WE, hand osteoarthritis was more prevalent in EE.
CONCLUSIONS: Osteoarthritis presents a significant epidemiological burden across Europe, with notable regional differences. In 2021, Western Europe had the highest incidence and DALY/YLD rates, while Eastern Europe had the highest age-standardized prevalence. These findings emphasize the need for region-specific public health strategies.

Conference/Value in Health Info

2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland

Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2

Code

EPH50

Topic

Epidemiology & Public Health, Health Policy & Regulatory, Real World Data & Information Systems

Topic Subcategory

Disease Classification & Coding, Public Health

Disease

Musculoskeletal Disorders (Arthritis, Bone Disorders, Osteoporosis, Other Musculoskeletal), No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas

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