New This is a new service – your feedback will help us to improve it.


This page presents information about trends in indicators related to musculoskeletal health.

Table of contents

Long term musculoskeletal problems prevalence

Persons, 16+ years

Time period England Value 95% confidence interval lower limit 95% confidence interval upper limit
2018 18.8 18.7 18.9
2019 18.8 18.7 18.9
2020 18.3 18.2 18.4
2021 17.0 16.9 17.1
2022 17.6 17.5 17.7
2023 18.4 18.3 18.5

You can find more information about this indicator and related data on our Fingertips website. Fingertips is a data platform that contains a large range of indicators organised into topics, such as tobacco, mental health, and mortality.

View long term musculoskeletal problems prevalence data.

View the long term musculoskeletal problems prevalence definition.

Visit the musculoskeletal health: local profiles on Fingertips for more information on musculoskeletal health.

Source: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (based on GP Patient Survey data)

The line chart shows the percentage of people aged 16 and over who report long-term arthritis or ongoing problem with back or joints. The proportion in England decreased from 18.8% in 2018 to 18.4% in 2023.


Emergency hospital admissions for hip fractures, ages 65 and over

Persons, 65+ years

Time period England Value 95% confidence interval lower limit 95% confidence interval upper limit
2010/11 615 610 621
2011/12 612 607 617
2012/13 600 595 605
2013/14 616 611 621
2014/15 601 596 606
2015/16 593 589 598
2016/17 580 575 585
2017/18 584 580 589
2018/19 566 562 571
2019/20 581 576 585
2020/21 539 535 544
2021/22 551 547 556
2022/23 558 554 562

You can find more information about this indicator and related data on our Fingertips website. Fingertips is a data platform that contains a large range of indicators organised into topics, such as tobacco, mental health, and mortality.

View emergency hospital admissions for hip fractures, ages 65 and over data.

View the emergency hospital admissions for hip fractures, ages 65 and over definition.

Visit the musculoskeletal health: local profiles on Fingertips for more information on musculoskeletal health.

Source: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities using NHS England Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) and Office for National Statistics (ONS) mid year population estimates

The line chart shows the rate of emergency hospital admissions for fractured neck of femur in people aged 65 and over. The directly standardised rate in England decreased from 615 per 100,000 in the financial year ending 2011 to 558 per 100,000 in the financial year ending 2023.


Rheumatoid arthritis prevalence (age 16 and over)

Persons, 16+ years

Time period England Value 95% confidence interval lower limit 95% confidence interval upper limit
2013/14 0.73 0.73 0.73
2014/15 0.73 0.73 0.73
2015/16 0.73 0.73 0.74
2016/17 0.74 0.74 0.74
2017/18 0.75 0.75 0.75
2018/19 0.76 0.76 0.76
2019/20 0.77 0.77 0.77
2020/21 0.77 0.77 0.77
2021/22 0.77 0.77 0.77
2022/23 0.76 0.76 0.77
2023/24 0.77 0.77 0.78

You can find more information about this indicator and related data on our Fingertips website. Fingertips is a data platform that contains a large range of indicators organised into topics, such as tobacco, mental health, and mortality.

View rheumatoid arthritis prevalence (age 16 and over) data.

View the rheumatoid arthritis prevalence (age 16 and over) definition.

Visit the musculoskeletal health: local profiles on Fingertips for more information on musculoskeletal health.

Source: Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), NHS England

The line chart shows the percentage of patients aged 16 and over with rheumatoid arthritis recorded on practice disease register. The crude rate in England increased from 0.73% in the financial year ending 2014 to 0.77% in the financial year ending 2024.


Osteoporosis prevalence (age 50 and over)

Persons, 50+ years

Time period England Value 95% confidence interval lower limit 95% confidence interval upper limit
2012/13 0.25 0.25 0.25
2013/14 0.40 0.40 0.41
2014/15 0.17 0.17 0.18
2015/16 0.31 0.31 0.32
2016/17 0.47 0.47 0.47
2017/18 0.62 0.62 0.63
2018/19 0.79 0.78 0.79
2019/20 0.85 0.85 0.86
2020/21 0.76 0.76 0.76
2021/22 0.85 0.85 0.85
2022/23 0.97 0.97 0.98
2023/24 1.10 1.09 1.10

You can find more information about this indicator and related data on our Fingertips website. Fingertips is a data platform that contains a large range of indicators organised into topics, such as tobacco, mental health, and mortality.

View osteoporosis prevalence (age 50 and over) data.

View the osteoporosis prevalence (age 50 and over) definition.

Visit the musculoskeletal health: local profiles on Fingertips for more information on musculoskeletal health.

Source: Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), NHS England

The line chart shows the percentage of patients aged 50 and over with osteoporosis recorded on practice disease register. The crude rate in England increased from 0.25% in the financial year ending 2013 to 1.10% in the financial year ending 2024.