Overview

Musculoskeletal conditions are conditions of the bones, muscles and connective tissues. Common musculoskeletal conditions include various forms of arthritis, back pain and problems, osteoporosis and gout.

Latest findings

1 in 7 Australians have some form of arthritis 1 in 2 Australians with arthritis experienced moderate to severe pain 1 in 5 Australians with arthritis experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress 3 in 5 people who have osteoarthritis are female 3 in 4 Australians over 45 with arthritis have self-reported at least one other chronic condition 1 in 11 Australians (9.3%) have osteoarthritis, approximately 2.2 million people in 2017–18 There was a 38% rise in the rate of total knee replacements for osteoarthritis from 2005–06 to 2017–18 People with osteoarthritis were twice as likely to describe their health as ‘poor’, among those aged 45 and over

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Highlights

1 in 5 Australiansaged 75 and over reported osteoporosis or osteopenia (low bone density) in 2017–18
Men are more likelythan women to have gout—almost 9 in 10 people with gout are men
3 out of 4Australians aged 45 and over with arthritis report at least one other chronic condition
29% of Australiansreported arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions in 2017–18, around 7.0 million people
2nd leading causeof overall disease burden in Australia in 2015 was back pain and problems
1 in 11 Australiansreported osteoarthritis in 2017–18
1 in 1000 childrenaged 0–15 years is affected by juvenile arthritis
1.9% of Australians reported having rheumatoid arthritis in 2017–18