Musculoskeletal Survey Questionnaire
Previous research has highlighted the lack of a standard tool for measuring the population prevalence of musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. This has resulted in a lack of data for advocacy, policy and planning for MSK conditions. In response to this, the Global Alliance for MSK Health Surveillance Taskforce and the Global Burden of Disease MSK Expert Group have developed an MSK survey module.
To quantify the burden of MSK conditions, the Surveillance Task Force for G-MUSC has developed a standardized one-page global MSK survey module to estimate the population prevalence of MSK-related pain. The module can be used as a stand-alone tool or within other surveys such as global, national, and sub-national health surveys. The module measures the prevalence of low back pain, neck pain, and hip and/or knee pain establishing a standard approach to collecting population-based data on the epidemiology these conditions. This tool is being further refined for use in other countries.
The module is one page long and the intention is for it to be easily integrated within other pre-existing and planned surveys, such as national health surveys, rather than being used as a stand-alone tool. This will minimise survey burden from conducting multiple surveys on local communities, and will save resources. It also encourages MSK conditions to be viewed as being integrated within broader health initiatives rather than being seen as stand-alone.
A copy of the survey can be found here and information about the survey can be found at
http://bjdonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Hoy-et-al-2018.pdf
For further information, please contact Dr Damian Hoy, who has led its development, and is a member of the Global Alliance for MSK Health International Coordinating Council: damehoy@yahoo.com.au
The module has been piloted in the Solomon Islands as part of their National Demographic and Health Survey. The results from the pilot can be found here.
Global Burden of Disease data
Musculoskeletal conditions are the biggest global cause of disability. The G-MUSC strategy to help countries identify their need is to maintain a set of core indicators for measuring the burden of MSK conditions as well as the the provision of healthcare and resources.
Data is available on the burden of disease through the Institute Health Metrics and Evaluation on the Global Burden of Disease. This data can be manipulated in a number of formats and includes Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) and Years Lived with Disability (YLDs).
The data can be accessed at http://www.healthdata.org/gbd
GBD 2021 Musculoskeletal series
GBD 2021 is the most recent iteration of the GBD studies. G-MUSC Executive members, Prof Lyn March, Prof Tony Woolf and Dr Marita Cross, led the MSK Editorial Group, co-supervised and co-authored the papers for the musculoskeletal series of publications in The Lancet Rheumatology. In addition, G-MUSC Executive members Deborah Kopansky-Giles, Karsten Dreinhoefer and Neil Betteridge co-authored the papers along with the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation and the GBD Collaborator Network.
Publications in Lancet Rheumatology include:
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Neck Pain
Wu AM, Cross M, Elliott JM, Culbreth GT, Haile LM, Steinmetz JD, Hagins H, Kopec JA, Brooks PM, Woolf AD, Kopansky-Giles DR, et al. Global, regional, and national burden of neck pain, 1990–2020, and projections to 2050: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet Rheumatology. 2024 Mar 1;6(3):e142-55.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S2665-9913(23)00321-1
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Rheumatoid arthritis
Black RJ, Cross M, Haile LM, Culbreth GT, Steinmetz JD, Hagins H, Kopec JA, Brooks PM, Woolf AD, Ong KL, Kopansky-Giles DR, et al. Global, regional, and national burden of rheumatoid arthritis, 1990–2020, and projections to 2050: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet Rheumatology. 2023 Oct 1;5(10):e594-610.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2665-9913(23)00211-4
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Low back pain
GBD 2021 Low Back Pain Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of low back pain, 1990-2020, its attributable risk factors, and projections to 2050: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet Rheumatol. 2023 May 22;5(6):e316-e329.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S2665-9913(23)00098-X
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Osteoarthritis
Steinmetz JD, Culbreth GT, Haile LM, Rafferty Q, Lo J, Fukutaki KG, Cruz JA, Smith AE, Vollset SE, Brooks PM, Cross M, at al. Global, regional, and national burden of osteoarthritis, 1990–2020 and projections to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet Rheumatology. 2023 Sep 1;5(9):e508-22.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S2665-9913(23)00163-7
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Other musculoskeletal conditions