570 - The burden of musculoskeletal disorders in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region: a longitudinal analysis from the global burden of disease dataset 1990-2019

Objectives: Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders pose a significant global burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study investigates trends in the MSK disorder burden across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 dataset. We aim to provide insights into the study's background and objectives, research design, results, and conclusions regarding MSK disorder burden and risk factors.

Design: This ecological study analyzes GBD data to assess MSK disorder burden in MENA from 1990 to 2019. We employ descriptive statistics and sociodemographic trend analysis without specific statistical tests. Age-standardized rates for MSK disorder prevalence and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) guide our examination of trends. We explore variations among regional countries and investigate age- and gender-specific risk factor trends.

Results: Between 1990 and 2019, age-standardized prevalence rates for MSK disorders increased by 5%, and age-standardized DALYs rose by 4.80%. Low back pain persisted as the most prevalent MSK condition, while rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other MSK disorders experienced the most significant DALY increase. Afghanistan exhibited the lowest age-standardized DALY rate, while Iran, Turkey, and Jordan reported the highest. Syria witnessed a notable decrease, contrasting Saudi Arabia's substantial increase in age-standardized DALY rates. In 2019, occupational risks, high body mass index, and tobacco smoking emerged as primary MSK disorder risk factors, with occupational risks being the dominant contributor. Over time, occupational risks decreased in contribution, while high body mass index's role as a risk factor expanded.

Conclusions: This study emphasizes the substantial MSK disorder burden in MENA, with multiple risk factors driving recent prevalence growth. Prioritizing MSK disorder management in public health agendas is crucial. Comprehensive research is essential to unravel underlying factors and devise effective preventive and management strategies.