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Prevalence and economic burden of osteoarthritis
Learn how widespread knee osteoarthritis is and its economic impact
Knee OA prevalence increases with age:
- Prevalence peaks at around 50 years
- Knee OA affects 4.8% of females and 2.8% of males1
- Hip and knee OA are ranked as the 12th highest contributor to global disability.
Here’s some facts about the burden of OA in Australia specifically:
(Source: National Osteoarthritis Strategy 2018)2
Osteoarthritis imposes a significant financial burden on individuals, the healthcare system, and society as a whole. Here are some facts about the financial burden of OA according to Arthritis Australia in 2016:3
- 4 million Australians were living with OA
- Arthritis is the second most common cause of early retirement due to ill-health in Australia
- 52,000 people aged 15-64 years were unable to work due to arthritis
- Arthritis cost the health system (in 2015) $5.5 billion dollars, projected to increase to $7.6 billion in 2030
This article is from the online course:
Physiotherapy Exercise and Physical Activity for Knee Osteoarthritis (PEAK)
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This article is from the free online
Physiotherapy Exercise and Physical Activity for Knee Osteoarthritis (PEAK)
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