Burden and Risk Factors of Gout, Low Back Pain, Osteoarthritis, and Rheumatoid Arthritis - China, 1990-2023.

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS TOPIC?: Musculoskeletal disorders, including gout, low back pain (LBP), osteoarthritis (OA), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), impose a substantial global health burden that intensifies with population aging. China confronts distinctive challenges stemming from rapid demographic aging and evolving occupational patterns, yet comprehensive analysis using the latest Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 data to inform long-term prevention strategies remains absent.

WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT?: This study demonstrates that from 1990 to 2023, the disease burdens of gout, OA, and RA increased continuously, whereas the burden of LBP declined. Predictive modeling indicates these divergent trajectories - growth for gout, OA, and RA versus reduction for LBP - will persist through 2043. Additionally, substantial gender- and age-specific variations in disease burden were identified, with peak impacts concentrated in the 40-80 age range.

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE?: The rising burden of these musculoskeletal diseases, concentrated in the 40-80 age group, necessitates urgent interventions aligned with "Healthy China 2030" objectives. Key priorities must include managing modifiable risk factors (body mass index, occupational ergonomics), implementing targeted screening programs for high-risk populations (males for gout, females for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis), and optimizing hierarchical diagnosis and rehabilitation systems to mitigate long-term disability.