Osteoarthritis, associated disability rising over 130pc globally among women: Study

New Delhi: A recent study published in BMJ Global Health has highlighted a sharp rise in osteoarthritis cases and associated disability among postmenopausal women over the past three decades. Researchers found that global osteoarthritis cases have surged by more than 130% since 1990, with postmenopausal women at significantly higher risk due to hormonal changes.

Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, occurs when joint cartilage deteriorates and is followed by bone remodeling, joint dysfunction, and chronic pain. In 2020 alone, an estimated 595 million people worldwide were living with osteoarthritis, accounting for nearly 8% of the global population. The study found that in 2021, there were 14,258,581 new cases of osteoarthritis, 278,568,950 existing cases, and 99,447,16 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost due to the disease. These figures represent increases of 133%, 140%, and 142% respectively since 1990.

Conducted by researchers from Hangzhou Medical College and Zhejiang University in China, the study pointed to menopause as a key factor in the rise of osteoarthritis cases among women. The decline in estrogen levels following menopause negatively impacts skeletal health and joint function, increasing the risk of osteoarthritis. Excess weight was also identified as a significant contributor, accounting for 20% of the total years lived with disability due to osteoarthritis.

“The burden of osteoarthritis among postmenopausal women continues to escalate, highlighting its significant impact on global health,” the researchers stated. They emphasized the urgent need for preventive measures, including lifestyle interventions aimed at managing body mass index (BMI). Additionally, the study called for policies that address socio-demographic disparities to effectively reduce the disease burden in this vulnerable population.

To assess the global impact of osteoarthritis in postmenopausal women, the researchers utilized data from The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study. Their analysis spanned 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2021, focusing on new and existing cases of knee, hip, hand, and other forms of osteoarthritis, as well as years of healthy life lost due to the condition.

Knee osteoarthritis emerged as the most prevalent and debilitating form, accounting for the highest loss of healthy years of life (1264.48 per 100,000 people). This was followed by osteoarthritis of the hand and other types, while hip osteoarthritis was the least common and associated with the lowest DALY rates.

The study underscores the urgent need for global health strategies to address the growing burden of osteoarthritis in postmenopausal women through targeted interventions and policy changes.