Osteoarthritis impacts both the sufferer and the community.
Burden of disease analysis is used to assess and compare the relative impact of different diseases and injuries on people or population. The unit of measure commonly used is called a DALY—a disability-adjusted life year. One DALY is essentially one year of 'healthy life' lost due to premature death (YLL), prolonged illness or disability (YLD), or a combination of these factors. The more DALYs, the greater the burden.
In Australia in 2003, compared to all other conditions, osteoarthritis was ranked 17th in the 20 leading causes of burden for males and 12th for females [1].
99% of DALYs due to osteoarthritis arose from years of healthy life lost due to disability and 1.1% arose from years of life lost due to premature death.
Burden of disease due to osteoarthritis, 2003
| Condition |
Years lived with disability (YLD)
Number |
Years lived with disability (YLD)
Per cent |
Years of life lost due to premature death (YLL)
Number |
Years of life lost due to premature death (YLL)
Per cent |
Number of years of healthy life lost due to disability or premature death (DALYs)
Number |
Number of years of healthy life lost due to disability or premature death (DALYs)
Per cent |
| Osteoarthritis |
34,204 |
98.9 |
374 |
1.1 |
34,578 |
100.0 |
Source: Begg et al. 2007
The Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) was updated in 2010 and is significantly broader in scope than previous versions. It includes:
- estimates from 21 regions (same as 2005 study)
- 291 diseases and injuries (compared with 220 diseases and injuries in 2005), and
- 67 risk factors (compared with 43 risk factors in 2005).
According to the GBD 2010 osteoarthritis accounted for 0.6% of all DALYs and 10.0% of DALYS due to musculoskeletal conditions. This burden accounted for 2.2% of global years of life lost due to disability (YLD) and 10% of all YLD from musculoskeletal disorders [2, 3].
The burden of osteoarthritis is ranked 38th in the world and 23rd in Australasia (includes Australia and New Zealand).
More detailed information on musculoskeletal conditions (from the GBD) will be published in 2013 and will subsequently be used to update this website.
As osteoarthritis progresses the capacity to participate fully in the workforce declines. This generally occurs gradually and mainly affects those aged 50 years or older [4].
According to the 2007–08 National Health Survey, people aged 45–64 with osteoarthritis were twice as likely as those without the condition not to be in the work force.
People with osteoarthritis were no more likely (ratio of 1.0) than people without the condition to report having days away from work but they were more likely to report having had other days of reduced activity than people without the condition.
Source tables
Table 1: Work force status of people (a) with and without osteoarthritis, 2007–08
| Work force status |
With osteoarthritis
Number |
With osteoarthritis
Per cent |
Without osteoarthritis
Number |
Without osteoarthritis
Per cent |
Rate ratio (b) |
| Employed |
399,855 |
54.7 |
3,392,739 |
75.5 |
0.7* |
| Unemployed |
7,905 |
1.1 |
73,786 |
1.6 |
0.7* |
| Not in the labour force |
322,819 |
44.2 |
1,029,598 |
22.9 |
1.9* |
| Total persons |
730,579 |
100.0 |
4,496,123 |
100.0 |
|
* Statistically significant.
a. People aged 45–64.
b. Ratio of 'with osteoarthritis' rate to 'without osteoarthritis' rate.
Source: AIHW analysis of ABS National Health Survey, 2007–08.
Table 2: Work patterns of people with and without osteoarthritis, 2004–05
| Level of productivity |
With osteoarthritis
Number |
With osteoarthritis
Per cent |
Without osteoarthritis
Number |
Without osteoarthritis
Per cent |
Rate ratio (c) |
| Days away from work (a) |
62,326 |
12.7 |
2,944,951 |
12.8 |
1.0 |
| Other days of reduced activity (b) |
351,523 |
22.7 |
9,038,437 |
18.4 |
1.2* |
* Statistically significant.
a. People aged 15–64.
b. People aged 5 and over.
c. Ratio of 'with osteoarthritis' rate to 'without osteoarthritis' rate.
Source: AIHW analysis of ABS National Health Survey, 2004–05.
References
- Begg S, Vos T, Barker B et al. 2007. The burden of disease and injury in Australia 2003. PHE 82. Canberra: AIHW.
- Murray CJL, Vos T, Lozano R et al. 2012. Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 291 diseases and injuries in 21 regions, 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. The Lancet 380:2197-2223.
- Vos T, Flaxman AD, Naghavi M et al. 2012. Years lived with disability (YLDs) for 1160 sequelae of 289 diseases and injuries 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. The Lancet 380:2163-2196.
- Arden N & Nevitt MC 2006. Osteoarthritis: epidemiology. Best Practice and Research: Clinical Rheumatology 20:3-25.