ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Injury Prevention and Control
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1462677
Sex-specific global health inequity of musculoskeletal disorders: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Provisionally accepted
- 1Wuhan Fourth Hospital, Wuhan, Hebei Province, China
- 2Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
- 3Cosmetology of Dermatology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Suzhou, Liaoning Province, China
- 4Wuhan Union Hospital, Wuhan, Hebei Province, China
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Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the gender-specific health inequity of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) from 1990 to 2021. Methods Age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPR), disability-adjusted life years (DALY), gross domestic product growth, malnourished population, and rates of urbanization were downloaded from Global burden of disease 2021 and World Bank. Trend analyses, sex-specific health inequity evaluations, and correlation analyses of economic factors were conducted. Results MSDs showed a significant increase in several regions worldwide. The global ASPR was 19179.66 (95% UI 18087.22, 20280.57) in 1990, and it rose to 19835.16 (95% UI 18812.71, 20942.71) in 2021. The growth rate of MSDs was faster in males than in females, with the Average Annual Percent Change (AAPC) being 0.13 (95% CI 0.12, 0.15) for males and 0.1 (95% CI 0.09, 0.11) for females. In 2021, the ASPR was highest among the 50-59 age group. The concentration index for the entire population was 0.05 (95% CI 0.04, 0.06) in 1990 and 0.04 (95% CI 0.02, 0.05) in 2021. The global slope index of inequality was 421 (95% CI 378.5, 516.2) in 1990 and 464 (95% CI 385.8, 558.6) in 2021. GDP level and growth might be associated with the health inequality. Conclusion The global situation of MSDs was concerning, especially in developed countries with high GDP growth and GDP level. The working-age population and males were significantly affected, with GDP metrics impacting DALY. The rising ASPR and increasing inequality in MSDs warrant more attention. Policymakers might prioritize workplace ergonomic reforms and expand healthcare access for high-risk groups.
Keywords: Musculoskeletal disorders, Health inequity, Global burden, gender, GBD
Received: 10 Jul 2024; Accepted: 17 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Wang, Zhang, Che, Yin and Wu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Jinyi Wu, Wuhan Fourth Hospital, Wuhan, Hebei Province, China
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