A significant increase
He. She research It analyzes the increase in osteoporosis over the past three decades in more than 200 countries. In 1990 there were 256 million people suffering from osteoporosis. By 2020, that number had increased to 595 million, an increase of 132 percent. However, the world population has also increased. From 1990 to 2020, the world population increased from 5.2 billion to 7.8 billion, so the relative increase in osteoarthritis is 55 percent, which is still alarming.
Study leader Dr Jamie Steinmetz of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) said: “Given that people are living longer and the world’s population is growing, we can expect this to place an enormous strain on health care in most countries.”
Mainly women
Osteoarthritis most often develops in the knees and hips, according to the new research The Lancet Rheumatology The knees will be the most affected in the future. However, osteoarthritis will also be more common in other parts of the body, such as the elbows and shoulders.
Women appear to be more at risk than men. In 2020, 61% of patients with osteoporosis were female, and only 39% were male. This could have several reasons.
“Possible causes of the gender difference are currently being investigated, but scientists believe it is due to genetics, hormonal factors and anatomical differences,” says Dr. Jacek Kubik of the University of British Columbia’s School of Population and Public Health. The author of the study.
Excess weight is a major cause
Excess weight is an important factor in the development of osteoporosis, and if the growing problem of obesity, which is particularly prevalent in developed countries, can be successfully addressed, osteoporosis can be reduced by up to 20 percent, according to the researchers.
In 1990, excess weight was responsible for 16% of osteoporosis cases, and by 2020 it will already be 20%.
“Health authorities and governments now have an opportunity to identify vulnerable groups, identify the causes of the osteoporosis problem, and develop strategies to prevent or slow the progression of this disease,” said Dr. Lien Ong, principal investigator at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and co-investigator. author.
