Trends and disparities in osteoarthritis prevalence among US adults, 2005-2018

Studies reporting trends and disparities of osteoarthritis (OA) in the United States are limited. We aimed to examine trends and disparities of OA prevalence among US adults, from 2005 to 2018. Continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2005-2006 to 2017-2018 were analyzed. Age-adjusted and self-reported OA prevalence, stratified by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES), was calculated separately for men and women. The linear trend and the association between the survey cycles and OA prevalence were assessed. Age-adjusted and self-reported OA prevalence linearly increased in the seven survey cycles (both P-linear trend <= 0.0002) in men and women. Non-Hispanic Caucasians (both P-linear trend <= 0.0001) in both genders and Non-Hispanic African Americans women (P-linear trend <= 0.0001) had significantly increasing linear trends in OA prevalence. In addition, people with lower SES had a lower age-adjusted prevalence of self-reported OA when compared to those with higher SES. The increasing linear trends still existed among both men and women after adjusting for multiple confounders (both P-linear trend <= 0.002). There were significant rising trends and disparities in self-reported OA prevalence among US men and women between 2005 and 2018.

Automated summary

There were significant linear increases in self-reported OA prevalence among US men and women from 2005 to 2018, with disparities observed across different racial/ethnic groups and socioeconomic status. Non-Hispanic Caucasians and Non-Hispanic African American women showed significantly increasing linear trends in OA prevalence. Individuals with lower socioeconomic status had lower age-adjusted prevalence of self-reported OA compared to those with higher socioeconomic status.