SOURCE ; NEW18
Last Updated:January 20, 2025, 10:09 IST
Sedentary jobs that involve long hours of sitting, poor posture, lack of exercise, and obesity are some of the reasons behind the uptick in number of cases
According to findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study, 2019, around 2.34 crore individuals in India had Osteoarthritis in 1990 and this increased to 6.24 crore in 2019. (Pixabay)
Social media is filled with memes mocking young people experiencing “ghutno and jodo ka dard” (joint and knee pains) at an unusually early age.
The memes are accurate to a certain extent as Osteoarthritis, traditionally seen as an age-related condition, is now becoming a major health concern among young adults aged 25-40 years in India. Previously uncommon in this age group, the condition is on the rise, with studies showing that around 1 in 10 young adults in India is affected.
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Osteoarthritis, in scientific terms, means a degenerative process or wear-and-tear of joints that leads to pain, stiffness, and loss of function.
There are multiple factors behind the uptick in cases, but blame your lifestyle the most.
Sedentary jobs that involve long hours of sitting, poor posture and lack of exercise are major factors. Also, rising obesity in youngsters stresses weight-bearing joints, accelerating wear-and-tear. Similar to all other diseases, genetic predispositions, dietary inadequacies, and environmental contaminants are emerging as concerns.
Also, medical experts have been witnessing many youngsters facing issues due to excessive and high-impact workouts without proper supervision, leading to joint damage. Even mental stress can worsen the condition by promoting inflammation in the body. Experts point out that untreated or poorly managed sports injuries are also key to early-onset Osteoarthritis.
Orthopaedics Call Trend ‘Alarming’, ‘Worrisome’
According to findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study, 2019, around 2.34 crore individuals in India had Osteoarthritis in 1990 and this increased to 6.24 crore in 2019. “The prevalence and incidence of osteoarthritis and knee osteoarthritis were consistently higher in females than males,” the study said.
News18 spoke to over half-a-dozen orthopaedic specialists across India to understand the trend.
Dr Mihir Thanvi, consultant orthopaedic at Apollo Spectra Hospital, Jaipur, told News18 that “Osteoarthritis, traditionally linked with ageing, is now increasingly affecting young adults aged 15 to 25 in the country”.
Once rare in this demographic, Thanvi believes that the rising incidence is “alarming”. “Symptoms such as joint pain, stiffness, and limited mobility are becoming more common, with our hospital seeing 3–5 new cases per week in my practice alone.”
According to Dr Balaji Patel Kola, senior interventional radiologist at Maven Medical Center, Hyderabad, “both men and women are affected, though women seem to experience it slightly more often, likely due to hormonal factors and differences in joint structure”.
In recent years, Kola said, they have been seeing an increasing number of young adults with Osteoarthritis. Earlier, this condition was more common in people over 50, but now, patients as young as 25-40 years are coming in with symptoms.
Dr Sahil Gaba, senior consultant, orthopaedics and joint replacement at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, shared a rough estimate, stating that five years ago, it would be one to two patients in every 10 under the age of 50 who would be diagnosed with Osteoarthritis. Now, this estimate has gone up to around three to four patients in every 10.
Gaba believes that it is “worrisome” to notice the increase in the relative prevalence of Osteoarthritis in the younger age groups, as early as 20s and 30s. He added that surgeons have been seeing younger patients needing surgery for the problem.
“…Research is also showing that Osteoarthritis is not merely a wear-and-tear process, but involves other mechanisms like increased inflammatory markers in the joints. This means that Osteoarthritis can no longer be called a disease of the elderly.”
Dr Hemant Bansal, senior consultant, orthopaedics, sports injury and joint replacement, Narayana Hospital, Gurugram, said “young people in the age group 25 to 35 are getting early Osteoarthritis in knees with significant proportion compared to last five years”.
Apart from other known factors, vitamin D3 and B12 deficiencies are also responsible for poor bone and neuro-muscle strength.
Dr Swapnil Keny, consultant-orthopedics, Fortis Hospital, Kalyan and Mulund, told News18 that “Osteoarthritis a disease of old age is now a myth and its incidence rate is definitely on the rise”.
“One of the most important factors behind this is a sedentary lifestyle, complemented by an inappropriate diet (such as consumption of junk food, soft drinks, high-calorie items and sugar intake). All of it is accompanied by a lack of physical activities and exercises that result in weight gain, obesity and increased body mass index (BMI).”
What Should Be Done?
The impact of early Osteoarthritis can be very distressing as it may prevent individuals from performing physical tasks comfortably, thereby affecting their employment prospects. It not only disrupts professional life but also leads to psychosocial challenges and increased healthcare expenses.
There is a need to raise awareness about the disease among youngsters so that they can spot the symptoms early. Experts believe that youngsters can significantly reduce their risk by maintaining a healthy weight and engaging in joint-friendly exercises.
