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 North West Value 95% confidence interval lower limit 95% confidence interval upper limit England Value
2018 21.2 21.0 21.5 18.8
2019 21.3 21.1 21.6 18.8
2020 20.8 20.5 21.0 18.3
2021 19.4 19.1 19.6 17.0
2022 19.7 19.5 20.0 17.6
2023 20.6 20.3 20.8 18.4

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 the North West decreased from 21.2% in 2018 to 20.6% in 2023.


Emergency hospital admissions for hip fractures, ages 65 and over

Persons, 65+ years

Time period North West Value 95% confidence interval lower limit 95% confidence interval upper limit England Value
2010/11 623 608 637 615
2011/12 633 619 648 612
2012/13 626 612 640 600
2013/14 633 619 647 616
2014/15 632 618 646 601
2015/16 622 608 636 593
2016/17 617 603 631 580
2017/18 623 609 636 584
2018/19 597 584 610 566
2019/20 618 605 631 581
2020/21 568 555 581 539
2021/22 600 587 613 551
2022/23 620 607 633 558

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 the North West changed from 623 per 100,000 in the financial year ending 2011 to 620 per 100,000 in the financial year ending 2023.


Rheumatoid arthritis prevalence (age 16 and over)

Persons, 16+ years

Time period North West Value 95% confidence interval lower limit 95% confidence interval upper limit England Value
2013/14 0.75 0.75 0.76 0.73
2014/15 0.75 0.75 0.76 0.73
2015/16 0.76 0.76 0.77 0.73
2016/17 0.77 0.76 0.78 0.74
2017/18 0.78 0.77 0.78 0.75
2018/19 0.80 0.79 0.80 0.76
2019/20 0.80 0.80 0.81 0.77
2020/21 0.80 0.80 0.81 0.77
2021/22 0.80 0.79 0.81 0.77
2022/23 0.80 0.79 0.80 0.76
2023/24 0.80 0.80 0.81 0.77

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 the North West increased from 0.75% in the financial year ending 2014 to 0.80% in the financial year ending 2024.


Osteoporosis prevalence (age 50 and over)

Persons, 50+ years

Time period North West Value 95% confidence interval lower limit 95% confidence interval upper limit England Value
2012/13 0.23 0.22 0.24 0.25
2013/14 0.38 0.37 0.39 0.40
2014/15 0.17 0.16 0.17 0.17
2015/16 0.31 0.30 0.31 0.31
2016/17 0.46 0.45 0.47 0.47
2017/18 0.62 0.61 0.63 0.62
2018/19 0.78 0.77 0.79 0.79
2019/20 0.83 0.82 0.84 0.85
2020/21 0.70 0.69 0.71 0.76
2021/22 0.79 0.78 0.80 0.85
2022/23 0.91 0.90 0.92 0.97
2023/24 1.04 1.03 1.05 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 the North West increased from 0.23% in the financial year ending 2013 to 1.04% in the financial year ending 2024.