Osteoarthritis Prevalent Among Younger Adults in China

While it has long been thought as a condition that mostly affects older individuals, younger adults are facing increasing problems with osteoarthritis.

New research suggests younger adults, specifically those with more physically intensive occupations, are more frequently being diagnosed with early-onset osteoarthritis.

In the study, which took place in China, researchers analyzed osteoarthritis trends with data from the Global Burden of Disease study [Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, 2025, 16(1): 5-12). 

The results show a large increase in osteoarthritis-related disability-adjusted life-years between 1990 and 2019, when the number of individuals with osteoarthritis more than doubled globally. In 2019, there were more than 130 million Chinese citizens with osteoarthritis, with projections showing a possible 50% increase by 2044. 

While the largest segment of the population with osteoarthritis remains those older than 60 years of age, the study sheds light on the growing osteoarthritis problem for individuals younger than 55 years of age.

The study shows that factors like obesity, menopause-related hormonal shifts and physically intensive lifestyles increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis. 

The results also show osteoarthritis generally is not an isolated condition and often is present in patients with other ailments that can complicate treatment and increase healthcare costs, such as heart failure, sarcopenia, fractures, depression and Alzheimer’s disease.

The investigators offered a solution to this growing problem; a multidisciplinary care approach that combines physical therapy, medication, lifestyle coaching and public education could help patients with osteoarthritis increase their quality of life. 

“People often think of OA [osteoarthritis] as simply a joint problem, but its effects are systemic and profound,” said Lin Jianhao, Department of Joint Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Arthritis Institute, Beijing, China and corresponding author of the study. 
“With an aging population and increasing obesity, China faces an unprecedented challenge. Our findings emphasize the urgency of early screening, lifestyle interventions and multidisciplinary care. Managing OA effectively means not only treating pain but also preventing associated diseases and preserving long-term mobility and mental health.”

—Kenny Walter