Musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases (MSD) are highly prevalent in all public strata. Today, research on MSD prevalence among the working-age population is complicated by the lack of available information.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the overall prevalence of MSD among the working-age population of the Volga Federal District (VFD) in 2020—2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The prevalence of MSD among the adult working-age population of VFD per 100.000 people was calculated in general and by certain nosologies. A nonparametric Wilcoxon test was used to assess the differences between all the studied indicators of the overall prevalence in 2020 and 2021. The critical level of significance for the absence of differences was 0.05. We used applied and descriptive statistics methods, Microsoft Excel program, and the Wolfram Research Mathematica v.11.3 system.
RESULTS
The study indicates a statistically significant decrease in the overall prevalence of MSD among the working-age population of most VFD entities in 2020—2021. We noted significant fluctuations in the overall prevalence rates in some regions by certain MSD nosologies, including statistically significant increases and statistically significant decreases. Thus, regarding the prevalence rates, the maximum overall prevalence of arthroses and arthropathies in 2020—2021 was registered in the Republic of Bashkortostan and was twice as high as the minimal rates registered in the Udmurt Republic and the Penza Region.
CONCLUSION
We detected pronounced regional differences in the overall prevalence of MSD among the working-age population of VFD entities. The general trend was the increase in prevalence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Governing bodies of subjects in health protection and main freelance domain experts shall consider the features of disease prevalence among the working-age population when planning and implementing public health promotion programs.