Osteoarthritis Affects 15% of the World Population
Osteoarthritis, the most common of the more than 100 types of arthritis, is a leading cause of chronic pain and disability in adults. An analysis of the prevalence of osteoarthritis around the world, published in The Lancet Rheumatology (September 2023), found that it affects 15% of the global population over age 30. For people 70 and over, the condition ranked seventh among causes of years lived with disability. Obesity was found to be an important risk factor, responsible for 20% of the disability of osteoarthritis, which was an increase from 16% in 1990. Disability attributed to osteoarthritis has increased over the past 30 years and is expected to continue to rise due to population growth, aging, and obesity. By 2050, osteoarthritis of the knee is projected to increase by 75%, and osteoarthritis of the hand by 50%.
