Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Department of Precision Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2024 Nov 1;10:e57359. doi: 10.2196/57359.
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are prevalent chronic joint disorders, with prevalence rates varying by sex. However, few studies have comprehensively documented the factors contributing to the sex-specific prevalence of osteoarthritis and RA, including sociological factors and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This study aims to identify long-term trends in the sex-specific prevalence of osteoarthritis and RA from 2005 to 2021 while examining the factors that serve as vulnerabilities specific to each sex within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Data were collected from a nationally representative sample of 110,225 individuals through the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2005 to 2021. The study included patients aged 19 years and older diagnosed with osteoarthritis or RA in South Korea. Data were analyzed using weighted trends to accurately represent the sample population, with a 95% CI. Weighted logistic and regression models were used to identify vulnerable groups at risk of osteoarthritis or RA during the pandemic to assess sex-specific trends.
In total, 110,225 individuals (n=48,410, 43.92% male participants) were analyzed from 2005 to 2021, with prevalence rates remaining stable over time and higher in female than in male participants. Notably, during the pandemic, female participants aged 60 years and older exhibited a prevalence of osteoarthritis that was 4.92 times greater than male participants and a prevalence of RA that was 6.44 times greater (osteoarthritis: prevalence ratio [PR] 69.78, 95% CI 41.66-116.88; RA: PR 17.27, 95% CI 8.75-34.07). In terms of osteoarthritis, male participants did not show a significant association with BMI (PR 1.40, 95% CI 1.21-1.61; P=.47), whereas female participants exhibited a significantly higher vulnerability within the obese group (PR 1.68, 95% CI 1.55-1.83; P<.001). Regarding RA, lower education levels were associated with increased vulnerability, with male participants showing a greater risk than female participants (male participants: PR 2.29, 95% CI 1.61-3.27 and female participants: PR 1.50, 95% CI 1.23-1.84).
This study reveals that women in South Korea have a higher prevalence of osteoarthritis and RA than men. Understanding these sex-specific trends and identifying vulnerability factors can enhance preventive efforts and patient care.
骨关节炎和类风湿关节炎（RA）是常见的慢性关节疾病，其患病率因性别而异。然而，很少有研究全面记录导致骨关节炎和 RA 性别特异性患病率的因素，包括社会学因素和 COVID-19 大流行的影响。
本研究旨在从 2005 年到 2021 年期间确定骨关节炎和 RA 的性别特异性患病率的长期趋势，并研究 COVID-19 大流行背景下与性别相关的脆弱性因素。
本研究的数据来自韩国全国健康与营养检查调查 2005 年至 2021 年期间的一个全国代表性样本，共纳入了 110225 名年龄在 19 岁及以上的韩国骨关节炎或 RA 患者。使用加权趋势分析来准确代表样本人群，置信区间为 95%。使用加权逻辑回归和回归模型来确定大流行期间患骨关节炎或 RA 的高危脆弱人群，以评估性别特异性趋势。
本研究共纳入了 110225 名（n=48410，43.92%为男性参与者）2005 年至 2021 年的数据，结果显示患病率随时间保持稳定，女性参与者的患病率高于男性参与者。值得注意的是，在大流行期间，60 岁及以上的女性参与者患骨关节炎的患病率是男性参与者的 4.92 倍，患 RA 的患病率是男性参与者的 6.44 倍（骨关节炎：患病率比 [PR] 69.78，95%置信区间 41.66-116.88；RA：PR 17.27，95%置信区间 8.75-34.07）。在骨关节炎方面，男性参与者的 BMI 与患病风险无显著关联（PR 1.40，95%置信区间 1.21-1.61；P=.47），而肥胖组的女性参与者患病风险显著增加（PR 1.68，95%置信区间 1.55-1.83；P<.001）。在 RA 方面，较低的教育水平与较高的脆弱性相关，男性参与者的患病风险高于女性参与者（男性参与者：PR 2.29，95%置信区间 1.61-3.27；女性参与者：PR 1.50，95%置信区间 1.23-1.84）。
本研究表明，韩国女性患骨关节炎和 RA 的患病率高于男性。了解这些性别特异性趋势和识别脆弱性因素可以加强预防措施和患者护理。
