Osteoarthritis is not just a problem for the elderly, these groups of people should also be careful!

Osteoarthritis: a growing global disease burden

Osteoarthritis is an important cause of chronic pain and motor impairment in adults. Since 1990, the global burden of osteoarthritis has gradually increased, and the incidence and prevalence have both shown an upward trend. According to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD), the number of people with osteoarthritis worldwide has increased from 20.342 million in 1990 to 41.468 million in 2019; the age-standardized incidence rate has increased from 473.6/100,000 in 1990 to 492.2/100,000 in 2019.

The situation in China is not optimistic either. The incidence and prevalence of osteoarthritis are higher than the Asian average. As the aging population intensifies, it is estimated that by 2044, the number of people suffering from osteoarthritis in China will increase by 1.5 times compared to 2019 .

Age-standardized incidence, standardized prevalence, and standardized DALYs rates of osteoarthritis in regions with a high global disease burden, 1990-2019

But what is more worrying is that osteoarthritis is no longer an "old age disease". In recent years, more and more young people, especially those engaged in physical labor, have also begun to show symptoms of osteoarthritis. The number of patients with "early-onset osteoarthritis" under the age of 55 is increasing rapidly. Globally, the number of patients with this disease and the number of patients have doubled in the past 30 years .

Epidemiological trends of the disease burden of osteoarthritis disability-adjusted life years in China from 1990 to 2021

People at high risk of osteoarthritis: Are you affected?

Middle-aged and elderly people: The prevalence of osteoarthritis in people over 40 years old is as high as 46.3%, especially in the elderly over 60 years old, where the prevalence exceeds 60%. As we age, wear and tear of joints are inevitable.

Postmenopausal women: Women, especially postmenopausal women, have a significantly higher risk of osteoarthritis than men. This is because estrogen has a protective effect on joint cartilage, and after menopause, estrogen levels drop, which accelerates joint degeneration.

Obese people: Excess weight will increase the burden on joints, especially the knee joints. Studies have shown that high BMI (body mass index) is closely related to the occurrence and progression of osteoarthritis. In 2019, the global burden of osteoarthritis-related diseases caused by obesity was as high as 31.9/100,000.

Rural and mountainous residents: People who engage in heavy physical labor for a long time, especially those living in rural and mountainous areas, have a higher risk of osteoarthritis. The southwestern mountainous areas are the areas with the heaviest burden of knee osteoarthritis in my country, which is closely related to the local terrain and labor methods.

The dangers of osteoarthritis: more than just joint pain

Osteoarthritis is more than just joint pain and impaired mobility. It can also lead to a range of other conditions:

1 Sarcopenia and fractures

People with osteoarthritis are prone to muscle loss, especially in the lower limb muscles, which increases the risk of falls and fractures.

2 Cardiovascular disease

Nearly 40% of osteoarthritis patients also suffer from cardiovascular diseases, such as heart failure, ischemic cardiomyopathy, etc. The inflammatory response caused by osteoarthritis may damage the vascular endothelium and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

3. Diabetes

The risk of diabetes in patients with osteoarthritis is 1.16 to 1.25 times higher than that of normal people. Inflammatory mediators and insulin resistance are the main causes, while obesity and lack of exercise also increase this risk.

4 Impairment of psychological and cognitive functions

More than 30% of osteoarthritis patients are depressed, especially those with hip osteoarthritis. Chronic pain and limited mobility may lead to cerebral cortical remodeling and increase the risk of dementia.

Scientific Management: How to deal with osteoarthritis?

Early prevention

For high-risk groups, such as postmenopausal women and obese people, they should adjust their lifestyle as early as possible, control their weight and avoid excessive exercise.

Rehabilitation Exercise

For patients who have already suffered from osteoarthritis, rehabilitation exercise training is an important treatment method. Reasonable exercise can relieve pain, improve joint function, and reduce the risk of other chronic diseases.

Multidisciplinary Management

More and more studies have shown that osteoarthritis is closely related to multidisciplinary diseases, and multidisciplinary management of osteoarthritis patients has become an inevitable trend. Osteoarthritis patients should regularly monitor cardiopulmonary function, blood pressure, blood sugar and other indicators, and timely screen and intervene in related diseases. Mental health should not be ignored, especially the risk of depression and Alzheimer's disease.

Specialist and multidisciplinary management of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is no longer limited to the elderly. Young people , obese people , and postmenopausal women all need to be vigilant. Early prevention, scientific treatment, and multidisciplinary management are the keys to dealing with osteoarthritis. Let us pay attention to joint health and stay away from the troubles of osteoarthritis!

If you or someone around you has similar symptoms, do not ignore it. Go to the hospital for examination as soon as possible for early detection and early treatment!

▌The popular science theme of this article comes from the article "Journal of Peking Union Medical College": Disease burden and harm of osteoarthritis

Original author: Wu Haotian, Lin Jianhao

Editor: Liu Yang and Zhao Na

Proofread by Li Na and Li Yule

Producer: Peng Bin

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