Burden of musculoskeletal disease and its determination by urbanicity, socioeconomic status, age, and sex: Results from 14,507 subjects.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The availability of reliable estimates of the burden of musculoskeletal disease is of considerable importance for policymakers.

METHODS:

This study uses data from the 14,507 participants of the European Health Interview Survey conducted in Austria in 2006/2007 to calculate estimates of the prevalence of osteoarthritis, spinal conditions, and osteoporosis in a population representative of other European Union or Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member states. Urbanicity, socioeconomic status, and age and sex were included as determinants of musculoskeletal disease.

RESULTS:

The prevalence of arthritis was 18.8% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 18.2-19.4%), of spinal conditions was 38.4% (95% CI 37.6-39.2%), and of osteoporosis was 6.6% (95% CI 6.3-7.0%). The census data showed strong evidence for an association between urbanicity and arthritis (P = 0.012) and osteoporosis (P < 0.001), but not spinal conditions (P = 0.721). Arthritis and spinal conditions were associated with socioeconomic status (P < 0.001 for all). Osteoporosis showed the same associations with age, income, and education. For arthritis, a combined model showed a substantial attenuation of the effect of urbanicity on arthritis prevalence after adjustment for socioeconomic status.

CONCLUSION:

These data suggest that the burden of musculoskeletal disease is determined by both urbanicity and socioeconomic status; however, the effect of urbanicity seems to be attributable to differences in socioeconomic status and demographics across geographic regions.

• Authors: Patrick Vavken, Ronald Dorotka
• Journal: Arthritis care & research (Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken)) Vol. 63 Issue 11 Pg. 1558-64 (Nov 2011) ISSN: 2151-4658 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21793230 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 by the American College of Rheumatology.

Topics

• Adult
• Age Distribution
• Age Factors
• Aged
• Arthritis (epidemiology)
• Austria (epidemiology)
• Cost of Illness
• Drug Utilization
• Female
• Health Surveys
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Musculoskeletal Diseases (drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Odds Ratio
• Osteoporosis (epidemiology)
• Prevalence
• Regression Analysis
• Risk Assessment
• Risk Factors
• Sex Distribution
• Sex Factors
• Social Class
• Spinal Diseases (epidemiology)
• Time Factors
• Urban Population (statistics & numerical data)