Update: Osteoarthritis and Spondylosis, Active Component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2016-2020

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
• Epidemiology
• Military Health

Background:

• Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent joint disease causing significant morbidity in U.S. military personnel.
• Spondylosis also presents a considerable health burden within the active component.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends and demographic variations in incident osteoarthritis and spondylosis diagnoses in U.S. active component service members from 2016-2020.
• To identify specific joints affected by OA and explore risk factors associated with these conditions in the military population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of diagnosis data for active component U.S. service members between 2016 and 2020.
• Calculation of crude overall and annual rates of osteoarthritis and spondylosis diagnoses per 100,000 person-years.
• Stratification of diagnoses by demographic factors (age, sex, race/ethnicity) and military characteristics (service branch, occupation).

Main Results:

• Crude rates for OA and spondylosis were 630.9 and 958.2 per 100,000 person-years, respectively, showing a marked annual decrease from 2016-2020.
• Higher OA rates were observed in males, those 35+, non-Hispanic Black service members, Army personnel, and healthcare workers.
• Spondylosis rates were elevated in those 30+, non-Hispanic White and Black service members, Army members, and those in healthcare/communications.
• Knee (38.8%) and shoulder (28.4%) were the most common sites for OA diagnoses, with variations by demographic and occupational groups.

Conclusions:

• While OA and spondylosis rates declined in U.S. service members, specific demographic and occupational groups remain at higher risk.
• Knee and shoulder joints are disproportionately affected by osteoarthritis in this population.
• Further research into military-specific equipment and activities is crucial for developing targeted countermeasures against joint damage.