Osteoarthritis - Epidemiology Forecast - 2036

Osteoarthritis Insights and Trends

• Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, primarily affecting middle-aged and older adults as a chronic degenerative condition characterized by the breakdown of joint cartilage. It commonly involves the hands, knees, hips, and spine. Osteoarthritis is classified into primary (age-related degeneration without a clear cause) and secondary, which results from factors such as joint injury or underlying conditions like Rheumatoid Arthritis.
• Osteoarthritis is closely associated with age, as radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis occurs in most people by age 65 years and in more than 75% of people older than age 75 years. Although many associations and mechanisms are not well understood, it has been reported that there is a higher prevalence of osteoarthritis among older women.
• The symptoms of osteoarthritis usually develop gradually. This is because it takes time for the cartilage to wear down and change the way your joints work. However, a sudden onset of symptoms is possible but not as common.
• The most common symptom of osteoarthritis is pain after overuse or inactivity of a joint. Symptoms usually develop slowly over the years and can occur differently in each person, including joint pain, stiffness, and decreased movement in the joint over time.

Osteoarthritis Epidemiology Forecast in the 7MM

• 2025 Diagnosed Cases of Osteoarthritis: ~99,000
• Osteoarthritis Growth Rate (2026-2036): 2% CAGR

DelveInsight's 'Osteoarthritis - Epidemiology Forecast - 2036' report delivers an in-depth understanding of Osteoarthritis, historical and forecasted epidemiology, in the United States, EU4 (Germany, Spain, Italy, and France) and the United Kingdom, and Japan.

Osteoarthritis Understanding and Diagnosis Algorithm

Osteoarthritis Overview and Diagnosis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and a chronic, degenerative joint disease that primarily affects middle-aged and older adults, characterized by the progressive breakdown of joint cartilage, most commonly in the hands, knees, hips, and spine; it is classified into primary and secondary types and progresses through stages from 0 (normal) to 4 (severe). Diagnosis of Osteoarthritis does not rely on a single definitive laboratory test but instead involves a combination of clinical evaluation and diagnostic tools, where blood tests such as CBC, ESR, rheumatoid factor, and ANA are typically normal, while imaging techniques like X-rays and ultrasound help confirm structural changes such as cartilage loss, osteophytes, synovial inflammation, and joint effusion.

Osteoarthritis Epidemiology

Key Findings from Osteoarthritis Epidemiological Analysis and Forecast

• As per the study by Nalamachu et al. (2020), 41%, 37%, and 22% of the patients with knee osteoarthritis were reported for mild, moderate, and severe pain, respectively, in the US.
• In a study by Schild et al. (2021), patient-level data was extracted from the German Institut fur Angewandte Gesundheitsforschung (InGef) database. Of 4,932,543 individuals sampled, 238,306 patients with osteoarthritis were included in the analysis: 80,055 (34%) categorised as having chronic pain (24,463 via opioid prescription) and 158,251 (66%) categorised as not having chronic pain.
• Osteoarthritis is one of the most common chronic diseases in the elderly population, contributing approximately 90-95% of all osteoarthritis cases (people above 40), and its prevalence increases with age.
• It is estimated that the number of cases of osteoarthritis will rise in the coming years because of the rising aging population and obesity, affecting the total pool of knee osteoarthritis.
• In 2025, the total number of diagnosed cases of osteoarthritis was around 99,000 cases in the 7MM, which is anticipated to increase during the forecast period [2026-2036].
• According to Iolascon et al. (2024), in Italy, the knee osteoarthritis burden significantly affects the national healthcare system and society. Knee osteoarthritis accounts for over 5 million prevalent cases and an age-standardized prevalence rate of 4066 cases per 100,000.
• In Japan, the total diagnosed cases of knee osteoarthritis reached 11,500,000 in 2025.

Scope of the Report:

• The report covers a segment of a descriptive overview of Osteoarthritis, explaining its causes, signs and symptoms, and pathogenesis.
• Comprehensive insight has been provided into the epidemiology segments and forecasts, the future growth potential of the diagnosis rate, and disease progression.

Report Insights

Osteoarthritis Patient Population Forecast

Report Key Strengths

• Epidemiology-based (Epi-based) Bottom-up Forecasting
• 11-year Forecast
• Patient Burden Trends (by geography)

FAQs:

• What are the disease risks, burdens, and unmet needs of Osteoarthritis? What will be the growth opportunities across the 7MM concerning the patient population with Osteoarthritis?
• What is the historical and forecasted Osteoarthritis patient pool in the US, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the UK, and Japan?

Reasons to Buy:

• Insights on patient burden/disease prevalence, evolution in diagnosis, and factors contributing to the change in the epidemiology of the disease during the forecast years.
• To understand key opinion leaders' perspectives on the diagnostic challenges to overcome barriers in the future.
• Detailed insights into various factors hampering disease diagnosis and other existing diagnostic challenges.