Generalized Joint Hypermobility in Adults: A Systematic Review With Meta‐Analysis to Identify Data‐Driven Cut‐offs Using the Beighton Score
Authors' conclusion
Beighton score cut-offs should vary with age.
Study context
- Population
- General adult population (≥18 years) with Beighton score reported; databases searched from inception to June 2024
- Participants
- 23,000 participants46 studies
- Outcome
- Prevalence of GJH by Beighton score and data-driven cut-offs for screening
Methodological detailsmeta-analysis when two or more studies available, 2.5% prevalence as indicator for typical variance
- Meta-analysis when two or more studies available
- 2.5% prevalence as indicator for typical variance
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
GJH prevalence at Beighton score ≥6 of 9, overall
Prevalence (95% CI 0.6-6.6); considered the threshold score indicating generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) outside typical variance
2%
Further pooled results
GJH prevalence at ≥6, young adults (18-25 years) (subgroup)
- Prevalence
- 5.0% (95% CI 1.2-18.0)
- 38 studies in age group analysis
GJH prevalence at ≥5, adults (26-65 years) (subgroup)
- Prevalence
- 1.5% (95% CI 0.2-9.5)
GJH prevalence at ≥4, older adults (≥65 years) (subgroup)
- Prevalence (95% CI 5.5-7.7); higher than the threshold
- 6.5%
- Insufficient data for meta-analysis of five or more
GJH prevalence by sex (female vs male)
- No statistically significant differences at any cut-off (all P ≥ 0.17)
- 45 studies in analysis by sex
Original publication
Generalized Joint Hypermobility in Adults: A Systematic Review With Meta‐Analysis to Identify Data‐Driven Cut‐offs Using the Beighton Score. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). Published 18 March 2026. doi:10.
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