Burden of Musculoskeletal and Headache Disorders in Asian Countries, 1990-2021: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

BACKGROUND

Comprehensive and updated data on the prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability rates of musculoskeletal (MSK) and headache disorders in Asia are scarce. We aimed to analyze the trends in incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) related to these disorders from 1990 to 2021.

METHODS

We assessed the burden of MSK and headache disorders across Asia utilizing data from the Global Burden of Disease study. We evaluated the trends in DALYs, mortality, incidence, and prevalence and their changes over time. Correlations with the sociodemographic index were examined to determine potential influencing factors.

RESULTS

In 2021, MSK and headache disorders accounted for 120 million DALYs (95% uncertainty interval: 72.5-182.3 million), reflecting a 94% increase since 1990. Furthermore, mortality increased by 138% over the same period. Lower back pain was the leading contributor to DALYs (36.9 million), followed by migraine (25.4 million) and knee osteoarthritis (7.4 million). From 1990 to 2021, DALYs due to osteoarthritis and gout increased by 15% and 170%, respectively. DALYs due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remained stable, although RA-related mortality increased by 117%. Age-standardized rates exhibited minimal variation, with the highest burden observed in individuals aged 50-54 years and a higher prevalence among females.

CONCLUSION

MSK and headache disorders were leading causes of disability in Asia, with significant increments in both DALYs and mortality over the past three decades. These trends underscore the urgent need for targeted prevention and management strategies, particularly for high-burden conditions like lower back pain, migraine, and osteoarthritis.