Global prevalence estimates of three chronic musculoskeletal conditions

There is a lack of global comparable data on the burden of musculoskeletal conditions in children and young people.  This study has estimated the global prevalence of three chronic musculoskeletal conditions; with Talipes Equinovarus (Clubfoot) in children under 5yrs of age and with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) or  Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (JSLE) in the under 16 year olds. The estimates were based on World Bank Population data and known prevalence for each condition and data presented for each UN region and sub-region. 

The data suggests approximately 3 million children and young people globally are currently living with one of these conditions and over 2 million with JIA. Most affected children are living in Asia and Africa and often in low resource settings. The tragedy is that these conditions are treatable and disability can be prevented. Many of the affected children are living in countries with little or low access to specialist care and without treatment, there is huge lifelong impact with social exclusion and poverty.  

Further work is needed urgently to engage with global stakeholders to work together to improve access to effective care for the many who are affected and reduce the otherwise adverse lifelong impact on their health, quality of life and the impact on society. 

https://ped-rheum.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12969-020-00443-8

By Professor Helen Foster, Professor Paediatric Rheumatology, Newcastle University, Malaysia (NUMed)