Musculoskeletal health local profiles: short commentary, March 2023
Published 7 March 2023
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2023
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New in this update
The following indicators have been updated with data for 2022:
- prevalence of a self-reported long-term musculoskeletal (MSK) problem
- prevalence of self-reporting at least 2 long-term conditions, at least one of which is MSK related
- odds of self-reported mental health conditions in people with an MSK condition, compared with those without an MSK condition (odds ratio)
Summary
This summary focuses on England level data. The Musculoskeletal health: local profiles presents indicators at the local authority level in addition to regional and England values.
Prevalence of self-reported long-term musculoskeletal (MSK) problem
The prevalence of people aged 16 and over self-reporting a long-term MSK condition, either arthritis or ongoing problem with back or joints, was 17.6% in 2022. This represents an increase from the prevalence in 2021 of 17.0% but was lower than 2020 when it was 18.3%.
In 2022, the prevalence of self-reported MSK problems remained lower in males (14.9%) than in females (20.1%).
The prevalence of adults self-reporting a long-term MSK condition showed an increase with age, from 2.5% among 16 to 24 year-olds to 49.8% among those aged 85 years and over.
There were differences in prevalence between ethnic groups. The prevalence of self-reported MSK problems amongst those who identified as white Irish (21.1%), black Caribbean (21.0%) or white English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British (20.2%) was higher than the England average (17.6%). People who identified as Chinese had the lowest prevalence of 6.4%.
Prevalence of self-reporting at least 2 long-term conditions, at least one of which is MSK related
The prevalence among people aged 16 and over self-reporting at least 2 long-term conditions, at least one of which is MSK related, was 12.8% in 2022. This represents an increase from 2021 when prevalence was 12.1% and remains lower than in 2020 (13.2%).
In 2022, the prevalence of self-reporting at least 2 long-term conditions, at least one of which was MSK related, remained lower in males (10.9%) than in females (14.5%).
The prevalence of adults self-reporting at least 2 long-term conditions, at least one of which is MSK related, showed an increase with age, from 1.7% among 16 to 24 year-olds to 44.0% among those aged 85 years and over.
There were differences in prevalence between ethnic groups. The prevalence of reporting at least 2 long-term conditions one of which was MSK related amongst those who identified as white Gypsy or Irish Traveller (20.5%), white Irish (15.7%), black Caribbean (15.7%) or white English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British (14.9%) was higher than the England average (12.8%). People who identified as Chinese had the lowest prevalence of 3.3%.
Odds of self-reported mental health conditions in people with an MSK condition, compared with those without an MSK condition (odds ratio)
The odds ratio quantifies the difference in prevalence of mental health conditions between those with an MSK condition and those without an MSK condition. An odds ratio higher than 1 means the prevalence is higher amongst those with a long term MSK condition than in those with no MSK condition.
In 2022, the odds ratio in all persons aged 16 and over was 1.4. This means the prevalence of self-reported mental health conditions was higher in people with an MSK condition than in people without. This figure is unchanged from 2021 and 2020. In 2022, the odds ratio was 1.5 for males and 1.3 for females. This means the excess prevalence of self-reported mental health conditions associated with MSK conditions was higher in males than in females.
The odds ratio of self-reporting a mental health condition among people with an MSK condition compared to those without an MSK condition generally decreased with age, from 3.7 among 16 to 24 year-olds to 1.1 among those aged 85 years and over. This indicates that the excess prevalence of self-reported mental health conditions associated with MSK conditions was greater in young adults.
There were differences by ethnic group, with the odds ratio of self-reporting a mental health condition among people with an MSK condition compared to those without an MSK condition highest amongst those who identified as white Roma (3.7) and lowest amongst those who identified as white Irish (1.1).
Background
MSK conditions are the leading cause of pain and disability in England and are one of the biggest causes of sickness absence and productivity loss. The aim of the Musculoskeletal health: local profiles is to provide meaningful data, on a single platform, to enable the commissioning of high value MSK services. MSK data is essential for understanding the health needs of local populations, the number of people accessing services, the cost of services and the outcomes services deliver.
Contact Details
If you would like to get in touch about the Musculoskeletal health: local profiles, please contact PHA-OHID@dhsc.gov.uk.