High prevalence and burden of osteoarthritis in China

Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability and important cause of increasing health burden among older populations. To date, most population-based epidemiological observational studies of osteoarthritis have been done in North American and European countries, 1 Hunter DJ Bierma-Zeinstra S Osteoarthritis. Lancet. 2019; 393: 1745-1759 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (517) Google Scholar while there is a paucity of data on the prevalence and incidence of osteoarthritis, as well as its potential health and economic effects, in China. Thus, the development of evidence-based preventive and treatment strategies for this disabling disease has been challenging. Burden of osteoarthritis in China, 1990–2017: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017Osteoarthritis is prevalent in China. Between 1990 and 2017, disease burden increased and varied greatly according to geographical location. Appropriate prevention and treatment strategies, predominantly those targeted at women, older people, and underdeveloped areas, must be developed to reduce the burden of the disease. Full-Text PDF