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

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common adult joint disease and accounts for significant morbidity burdens among U.S. civilian and military populations. During 2016-2020, the crude overall rates of incident OA and spondylosis diagnoses among U.S. active component service members were 630.9 per 100,000 person-years (p-yrs) and 958.2 per 100,000 p-yrs, respectively. Crude annual rates of both conditions decreased markedly from 2016 through 2020 with declines evident in all of the demographic and military subgroups examined. Compared to their respective counterparts, crude overall rates of OA diagnoses were highest among male service members, those aged 35 or older, non-Hispanic Black service members, Army members, and those working in health care occupations. Crude overall rates of spondylosis diagnoses were highest among those aged 30 or older, non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black service members, Army members, and those in health care and communications/intelligence occupations. More than two-thirds of all incident OA diagnoses involved the knee (38.8%) or shoulder (28.4%). Differences in anatomic site-specific rates of OA were apparent by sex, race/ethnicity group, service, and military occupation. Additional research to identify military-specific equipment and activities that increase the risk of acute and chronic damage to joints would be useful to develop, test, and implement practical and effective countermeasures against OA and spondylosis among military members in general and those in high-risk occupations specifically.