Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are a major source of morbidity and disability. There is a lack of global comparable data on the burden of MSK conditions in children and young people. Our aim was to estimate the global prevalence of three MSK conditions - Talipes Equinovarus (Clubfoot), Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) and Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (JSLE).
Using reported prevalence rates, age-stratified population data within the World Bank Data Bank in 2017 and United Nations country classification, we estimated the prevalence of these MSK conditions in < 5 year olds (clubfoot) and < 16 year olds (JIA and JSLE) across the world.
We estimated that in 2017, there were ~ 675,061 < 5 year olds with clubfoot among 675,100,000 < 5 year olds, ~ 2,069,246 < 16 year olds with JIA and ~ 206,931 < 16 year olds with JSLE per 2,069,000,000 < 16 year olds, totalling ~ 2,951,238 with one of these conditions. Disease prevalence was greatest in Asia (South Asia), followed by Africa, Americas, Europe and Oceania.
An estimated 3 million children and young people globally are currently living with either clubfoot, JIA or JSLE; many in Asia and Africa. Further work is needed urgently to engage with global stakeholders to work together to improve access to effective care for the many who are affected and reduce the otherwise adverse lifelong impact on their health, quality of life and the impact on society.