Level of need
5.1 Estimated prevalence of MSK conditions
Nationally, 20% of the population people in the UK see a doctor about a MSK problem each year. Whilst this figure is not available at a local level, other published indicators suggest that people in North Tyneside are more likely to have a MSK condition than people in England overall, but less likely than many other areas in the North East.
- Modelling suggests over 63,000 residents are living with a MSK condition
- Information from GP records suggests that 20.7-21.2% of the population reported a long-term MSK condition in 2023
Appendix 1 of this document provides more detail.
5.2 Co-occurring conditions
People with MSK conditions may also be affected by other co-occurring/comorbid conditions. Many long-term conditions share similar risk factors and therefore people already facing inequalities are more likely to be affected. People in North Tyneside are more likely to report co-occurring conditions with MSK conditions than people in England overall (15.8% in 2023 vs 13.4% for England). Whilst this is slightly higher than the previous year, it is one of the lowest in the North East.
People with MSK conditions are more likely to have a mental health condition. Living with a MSK condition can lead to depression and anxiety, and conversely poor mental health can exacerbate or potentially lead to a MSK condition. The most recent data shows that around a quarter of North Tyneside residents with a MSK condition also report depression or anxiety. The data also shows that the odds of this are similar for North Tyneside residents and people in England overall.
5.3 Burden of MSK conditions
The ‘burden’ of a particular health issue can be qualified by the number of years lived with a disability (YLDs) it causes in a defined population. Over 21% of all years lived with a disability (YLDs) in England are due to a MSK condition. Locally, MSK conditions were responsible for just under 21% of YLDs in North Tyneside. Whilst this is slightly lower than England overall, over 6,700 years were still lost to disability in 2019, which is considerable. Back pain was the leading cause, followed by neck pain, osteoarthritis, other MSK conditions and rheumatoid arthritis.
As above, people with long-term MSK conditions are more likely other long-term conditions than the general population. This places a further burden on the health and quality of life of those affected and potentially further burdens on the health and social care system.