The global burden of osteoarthritis hand: lessons from the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990–2021

BackgroundHand osteoarthritis (HOA), a disabling musculoskeletal disorder, poses a significant global burden but remains understudied relative to other osteoarthritis (OA) subtypes. Using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 1990–2021, this analysis characterizes HOA epidemiology, temp...

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Main Authors: Jiyong Wei, Zhongyi Su, Songmu Pan, Zhuan Zou, Gui Liao, Guangxiong Li, Huijiang Liu, Guipeng Lan, Ronghe Gu, Yanni Lan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1616132/full
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author Jiyong Wei
Zhongyi Su
Songmu Pan
Zhuan Zou
Gui Liao
Guangxiong Li
Huijiang Liu
Guipeng Lan
Ronghe Gu
Yanni Lan
author_facet Jiyong Wei
Zhongyi Su
Songmu Pan
Zhuan Zou
Gui Liao
Guangxiong Li
Huijiang Liu
Guipeng Lan
Ronghe Gu
Yanni Lan
author_sort Jiyong Wei
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundHand osteoarthritis (HOA), a disabling musculoskeletal disorder, poses a significant global burden but remains understudied relative to other osteoarthritis (OA) subtypes. Using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 1990–2021, this analysis characterizes HOA epidemiology, temporal trends, and future projections.MethodsGBD 2021 data on HOA incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were stratified by sex, age, Socio-demographic Index (SDI) regions, GBD regions, and countries. Temporal trends (1990–2021) were assessed via estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs), with future projections (2022–2046) generated using an age-period-cohort (APC) model.ResultsIn 2021, HOA accounted for 10.37 million incidence cases, 194.28 million prevalence cases, and 6.17 million DALYs. Female burdens were 1.8–2.0 times higher than males in absolute terms and 1.75–1.78 times higher in age-standardized rates (ASRs). Incidence cases peaked in advanced ages before declining, while prevalence/DALYs rose monotonically with age. Middle SDI regions had the highest absolute burdens, whereas high SDI regions showed the highest ASRs. Central Asia emerged as a burden hotspot, while minimal health system regions and sub-Saharan Africa had the lowest rates. From 1990 to 2021, global incidences increased 142%. Low/middle-income regions (such as South Asia) saw significant increases, contrasting with declines in high-income areas (such as Western Europe). APC projections indicate continued growth through 2046, with male/female incidences rising 69.6%/51.6% and ASRs increasing for both sexes.ConclusionHOA represents a growing global challenge with pronounced sex/age/regional disparities. Targeted interventions in high-burden regions, aging populations, and risk factor management are critical to mitigate projected burden increases.
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spelling doaj-art-11c8dcd699ff49288865becc8530424c2025-08-20T02:46:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-07-011210.3389/fmed.2025.16161321616132The global burden of osteoarthritis hand: lessons from the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990–2021Jiyong Wei0Zhongyi Su1Songmu Pan2Zhuan Zou3Gui Liao4Guangxiong Li5Huijiang Liu6Guipeng Lan7Ronghe Gu8Yanni Lan9Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Nanning, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Nanning, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Nanning, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Nanning, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Nanning, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Nanning, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Nanning, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Bone Surgery, The Eight People's Hospital of Nanning, Nanning, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Nanning, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, The People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region & Guangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, ChinaBackgroundHand osteoarthritis (HOA), a disabling musculoskeletal disorder, poses a significant global burden but remains understudied relative to other osteoarthritis (OA) subtypes. Using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 1990–2021, this analysis characterizes HOA epidemiology, temporal trends, and future projections.MethodsGBD 2021 data on HOA incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were stratified by sex, age, Socio-demographic Index (SDI) regions, GBD regions, and countries. Temporal trends (1990–2021) were assessed via estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs), with future projections (2022–2046) generated using an age-period-cohort (APC) model.ResultsIn 2021, HOA accounted for 10.37 million incidence cases, 194.28 million prevalence cases, and 6.17 million DALYs. Female burdens were 1.8–2.0 times higher than males in absolute terms and 1.75–1.78 times higher in age-standardized rates (ASRs). Incidence cases peaked in advanced ages before declining, while prevalence/DALYs rose monotonically with age. Middle SDI regions had the highest absolute burdens, whereas high SDI regions showed the highest ASRs. Central Asia emerged as a burden hotspot, while minimal health system regions and sub-Saharan Africa had the lowest rates. From 1990 to 2021, global incidences increased 142%. Low/middle-income regions (such as South Asia) saw significant increases, contrasting with declines in high-income areas (such as Western Europe). APC projections indicate continued growth through 2046, with male/female incidences rising 69.6%/51.6% and ASRs increasing for both sexes.ConclusionHOA represents a growing global challenge with pronounced sex/age/regional disparities. Targeted interventions in high-burden regions, aging populations, and risk factor management are critical to mitigate projected burden increases.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1616132/fullosteoarthritishandglobaldisease burdenGBD
spellingShingle Jiyong Wei
Zhongyi Su
Songmu Pan
Zhuan Zou
Gui Liao
Guangxiong Li
Huijiang Liu
Guipeng Lan
Ronghe Gu
Yanni Lan
The global burden of osteoarthritis hand: lessons from the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990–2021
Frontiers in Medicine
osteoarthritis
hand
global
disease burden
GBD
title The global burden of osteoarthritis hand: lessons from the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990–2021
title_full The global burden of osteoarthritis hand: lessons from the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990–2021
title_fullStr The global burden of osteoarthritis hand: lessons from the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990–2021
title_full_unstemmed The global burden of osteoarthritis hand: lessons from the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990–2021
title_short The global burden of osteoarthritis hand: lessons from the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990–2021
title_sort global burden of osteoarthritis hand lessons from the global burden of disease study 1990 2021
topic osteoarthritis
hand
global
disease burden
GBD
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1616132/full
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