PRESS
RELEASE
WHO
report reveals the true extent of musculoskeletal disease and the impact that
these conditions have on society
“Longer
life expectancy with an increasing number of elderly in all population groups
have led to an escalating prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases worldwide,”
said Professor Anthony Woolf, Professor of
Rheumatology and lead investigator,
A
WHO Scientific Group of experts has been working over the last three years in
collaboration with the Bone and Joint Decade to map out the burden of the most
prominent musculoskeletal conditions, with the long-term aim of helping prepare
nations for the increase in disability brought about by musculoskeletal
conditions. In particular the Group has
gathered data on the incidence and prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis,
osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, major limb trauma and spinal disorders. The Group also considered the severity and
course of these conditions, along with their economic impact.
“Although the diseases that kill attract much of the
public’s attention, musculoskeletal conditions are the major cause of morbidity
throughout the world, having a substantial influence on health and quality of
life, and inflicting an enormous burden of cost on health systems,” said Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, then
Director General, WHO, at the launch meeting of the project. “The ongoing work of the WHO and the Bone and
Joint Decade aim to highlight the situation and encourage action to bring
relief and hope to the millions who suffer from musculoskeletal conditions.”
Musculoskeletal
conditions are common in all regions of the world and encompass about 150
diseases and syndromes affecting children and adults, which are usually
associated with pain and loss of physical function. The most common conditions,
and those upon which the report focuses, include joint diseases rheumatoid
arthritis and osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, spinal disorders (including low
back pain), and conditions arising from severe trauma.
Within
a decade of onset, rheumatoid arthritis leads to work disability, defined as a
total cessation of employment, in no less than 51% of patients and maybe as
high as 59%. 80% of patients with
osteoarthritis have some degree of limitation of movement, and 25% cannot
perform their major daily activities of life.
In
1990, a worldwide estimate of 1.7 million hip fractures occurred as a result of
osteoporosis. This number is expected to
exceed 6 million by 2050. Low back pain
has reached epidemic proportions being reported by about 80% of people at some
time in their life.
In
the developed world, where these conditions are already the most frequent cause
of physical disability, ageing of the most populous demographic groups will
further increase the burden these conditions impose. In the developing world, successful care of
childhood and communicable diseases and an increase in road traffic accidents
is shifting the burden to musculoskeletal and other non-communicable
conditions. A dramatic increase in
suffering caused by musculoskeletal conditions is imminent and will result in
severe financial pressures for health services around the world.
Total
costs of musculoskeletal disease in the
“The
enormous impact of these conditions requires urgent action” said Professor Lars
Lidgren, chair of the Bone and Joint Decade. “This has already been called for by Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General,
when endorsing the Bone and Joint Decade who stated that there are effective
ways to prevent and treat these disabling disorders, but we must act on them
now.”
- ENDS -
Please
also refer to the press statement released by the World Health Organisation,
contact their press office for a copy – Fadéla Chaibf (chaibf@who.int) or Gilbert Padey (padeyg@who.int) Telephone: + 41 22 791 2544
“The
Burden of Musculoskeletal Conditions at the Start of the New Millennium” is the
result of three years of work by an international scientific group of
experts. It was undertaken as a collaboration between the WHO and the Bone and Joint
Decade. It is published in the WHO
Technical Report Series.
An
electronic version of the report is available at: http://www.who.int/ncd/cra/
For
additional information on ordering The Burden of Musculoskeletal Conditions at
the Start of the New Millennium (TRS 919) or other WHO publications, contact:
Marketing and Dissemination, World Health Organization, 20 avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland (tel.: +41 22 791 2476;
fax: +41 22 791 4857; email: bookorders@who.int
THE
BONE AND JOINT DECADE is an independent global non-profit organization whose
mission is to improve the health-related quality of life for people affected by
musculoskeletal disorders worldwide. It is the umbrella organization by which
National Action Networks, professional medical societies, patient advocacy
groups, governments, industry and researchers partner to effect change by: (1) Raising awareness of the growing
burden of musculoskeletal disorders on society; (2) Empowering patients to
participate in their own care; (3) Promoting cost-effective prevention and
treatment; and (4) Advancing
understanding of musculoskeletal disorders through research to improve
prevention and treatment. For more information, visit the web site at
www.boneandjointdecade.org.