Public health significance of musculoskeletal diseases

Musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) are public health and individual problem, and with cardiovascular diseases, injuries and mental health disorders, they are the leading causes of increased morbidity and mortality. The hospital MSD registry covering the area of Tuzla Canton (2000.-2005.) provides for the decade activities of care related to the causes and consequences of the diseases. The purpose and objectives of the study aim to establish trends in the incidence and prevalence of MSDs by age and sex, the hospital treatment outcome and the primary diagnosis and MSD comorbidity. The study included 5,825 hospitalized men (43%) and women (57%), divided into the experimental group (4.692) that included inflammatory arthropathy, degenerative forms of rheumatism, metabolic diseases; and the control group covering other MSDs (1.133) within group M" of ICD-X. The trend in incidence and prevalence of MSD is growing without significant sex-specific differences. New female patients (2.708) with the diagnosis studied are more significantly affected compared to men (1.984). The patients within the studied group of diseases are more significantly affected (3.737) compared to other MSDs (1.008) at the age of <65. The registered individual diagnosis studied (4.594) significantly correlate with a large number of patients from the same group compared to 199 patients with MSD comorbidity. Uncured patients with the diagnosis studied (1.778) and MSD cornorbidity (86) are more significant compared to those with cure hospital treatment outcome. It is estimated that every year there is 8% of new patients diagnosed with MSD in the health-care system of the Tuzla Canton, who are mostly <65 years of age, having average five-year hospital treatment frequency of 1,7 times, while women continue to be more significantly affected. The strategies of reducing morbidity, disability and mortality caused by MSDs recommend a cross-cutting approach accompanied with comprehension and acceptance of individual responsibility.