Global burden of musculoskeletal disorders in children and adolescents from 1990 to 2021: a joint point regression and decomposition analysis

The study aimed to investigate the pattern and trend of Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders in people aged 5–19 years from 1990 to 2021. The data was sourced from the Global Burden of Disease study 2021. The Age-standardized DALYs rates (ASDR), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR), and age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and their corresponding average annual percent change (AAPC) for MSK disorders were evaluated by sex, region, and sociodemographic index (SDI) quintiles. Globally, the ASPR of MSK disorders among children and adolescents increased per 100,000 population from 3048.66 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2336.68–3887.02) in 1990 to 3105.46 (95% CI: 2421.09–3904.95) in 2021 (AAPC 0.06 [95% CI: 0.05–0.07]). In 2021, individuals aged 15–19 experienced the highest burden compared to those aged 5–9 and 10–14. In 2021, high SDI countries had the highest ASIR, ASPR, ASDR of MSK disorders. The AAPC of ASPR in high SDI countries showed a stark contrast to that in low SDI countries for the same period (AAPC 0.48 vs. AAPC −0.03). From 1990 to 2021, in low SDI and low-middle SDI countries, the increase in DALYs was primarily due to population growth. However, in middle SDI, high-middle, and high SDI countries, the increases were mainly due to epidemiological changes. Globally, patients aged 10–14 experienced better care compared to those in the 5–9 and 15–19 age groups. Specific preventive health measures are needed for females and adolescents aged 15–19 in high SDI countries.