Epidemiology of Osteoarthritis and Joint Health

Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent form of joint disease worldwide, affecting an estimated 10–15 per cent of adults and representing a leading cause of chronic pain and disability. Incidence rises sharply with increasing age, particularly beyond the sixth decade of life, and exhibits notable sex differences, with women more frequently affected than men. Major risk factors include mechanical stress, obesity, heredity and occupational exposures, while emerging evidence points to low-grade inflammation and metabolic dysregulation as contributors to joint degeneration. The global burden of osteoarthritis varies regionally, reflecting differences in demographics, lifestyle and access to healthcare. Projections indicate a continued increase in joint-related morbidity as populations age, emphasising the need for improved surveillance, early detection and targeted prevention strategies. Public health approaches now integrate biomechanical, genetic and environmental data to stratify high-risk groups and guide interventions that preserve mobility and quality of life.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have refined global prevalence estimates by analysing harmonised data from large-scale health surveys, revealing that osteoarthritis burden is disproportionately high in regions undergoing rapid demographic transition. A comprehensive genome-wide meta-analysis has uncovered novel genetic loci linked to cartilage homeostasis and inflammatory signalling, offering new insights into individual susceptibility and potential molecular targets. Concurrently, advances in quantitative imaging biomarkers—derived from MRI and novel ultrasonographic techniques—have been integrated into longitudinal cohort studies, enabling more accurate prediction of joint space narrowing and cartilage loss over time. These developments support the design of precision-medicine trials and facilitate identification of subpopulations most likely to benefit from early therapeutic intervention.

Epidemiology of Osteoarthritis and Joint Health publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in epidemiology of osteoarthritis and joint health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Prevalence: The proportion of a population affected by a condition at a specified time.

Incidence: The rate of new cases of a condition arising in a population over a defined period.

Arthroplasty: Surgical replacement or reconstruction of a joint to restore function and alleviate pain.

Biomarker: A measurable indicator of biological processes or responses, used to detect or monitor disease.

Genome-wide association study (GWAS): A research approach that scans the genome for genetic variants associated with a particular disease or trait.

References

1. Arthrosis and its relation to work.. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health (1984).
2. Lower Limb Arthroplasties in Colombia: Projections for 2050 Based on Official Records. Epidemiologia (2025).
3. Association between increasing age, obesity and heredity with osteoarthritis of knee joint among middle aged and old aged population. International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences (2020).