Regional disparities, age-related changes and sex-related differences in knee osteoarthritis

BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2024 Jan 15;25(1):66. doi: 10.1186/s12891-024-07191-w.

Abstract

Background: The objective of the study is to analyse the regions, age and sex differences in the incidence of knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Methods: Data were extracted from the global burden of diseases (GBD) 2019 study, including incidence, years lived with disability (YLD), disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) and risk factors. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were calculated to quantify the temporal trends in age standardized rate (ASR) of KOA. Paired t-test, paired Wilcoxon signed-rank test and spearman correlation were performed to analyze the association of sex disparity in KOA and socio-demographic index (SDI).

Results: There were significant regional differences in the incidence of knee osteoarthritis. In 2019, South Korea had the highest incidence of knee osteoarthritis (474.85,95%UI:413.34-539.64) and Thailand had the highest increase in incidence of knee osteoarthritis (EAPC = 0.56, 95%CI = 0.54-0.58). Notably, higher incidence, YLD and DALYs of knee osteoarthritis were associated with areas with a high socio-demographic index (r = 0.336, p < 0.001; r = 0.324, p < 0.001; r = 0.324, p < 0.001). In terms of age differences, the greatest increase in the incidence of knee osteoarthritis was between the 35-39 and 40-44 age groups. (EAPC = 0.52, 95%CI = 0.40-0.63; 0.47, 95%CI = 0.36-0.58). In addition, there were significant sex differences in the disease burden of knee osteoarthritis (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: The incidence of knee osteoarthritis is significantly different with regions, age and sex.

Keywords: Age-standardized rates; Incidence; Knee osteoarthritis; Risk factors; Sex-Related Differences.

MeSH terms

  • Cost of Illness
  • Female
  • Global Burden of Disease
  • Global Health
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Osteoarthritis, Knee* / diagnosis
  • Osteoarthritis, Knee* / epidemiology
  • Quality-Adjusted Life Years
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology
  • Sex Characteristics