Global burden of osteoarthritis in middle-aged adults (40–59 years): estimates from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study
Authors' conclusion
This study underscores the growing burden of OA among middle-aged adults, a population that has been historically underrepresented in OA research.
Study context
- Population
- Middle-aged adults (40–59 years) with osteoarthritis (OA), worldwide
- Primary endpoint
- Incidence, prevalence and YLDs of OA in middle-aged adults
- Follow-up
- 1990 to 2021
Methodological details1990–2021, forecast to 2050 (GBD Foresight Visualization tool), by sociodemographic index (SDI) and geographical region
- 1990–2021
- Forecast to 2050 (GBD Foresight Visualization tool)
- By SDI and geographical region
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
OA burden in middle-aged adults
- Incident cases, increase 1990 to 2021
- 123.7%
- Incident cases, 1990
- 11.8 million
- Incident cases, 2021
- 26.4 million
- Share of incident cases occurring in middle-aged group
- 56.5%
- Share of prevalent cases occurring in middle-aged group
- 37.9%
- Higher incident cases vs elderly population (>60 years)
- 70%
- Higher incident cases vs younger population (30-39 years)
- 331%
Further findings
Projected age-standardised incident rate of OA in middle-aged population · 2050
- Projected increase
- 10.2%
- Hand OA showing the largest rise
Original publication
Global burden of osteoarthritis in middle-aged adults (40–59 years): estimates from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 9 September 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →