New This is a new service – your feedback will help us to improve it.


This page presents information about trends in indicators related to musculoskeletal health.

Table of contents

Long term musculoskeletal problems prevalence

Persons, 16+ years

Time period London Value 95% confidence interval lower limit 95% confidence interval upper limit England Value
2018 14.2 14.0 14.4 18.8
2019 14.1 13.8 14.3 18.8
2020 13.5 13.3 13.7 18.3
2021 12.1 11.9 12.3 17.0
2022 12.7 12.5 12.9 17.6
2023 13.4 13.2 13.6 18.4

You can find more information about this indicator and related data on our Fingertips website. Fingertips is a data platform that contains a large range of indicators organised into topics, such as tobacco, mental health, and mortality.

View long term musculoskeletal problems prevalence data.

View the long term musculoskeletal problems prevalence definition.

Visit the musculoskeletal health: local profiles on Fingertips for more information on musculoskeletal health.

Source: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (based on GP Patient Survey data)

The line chart shows the percentage of people aged 16 and over who report long-term arthritis or ongoing problem with back or joints. The proportion in London decreased from 14.2% in 2018 to 13.4% in 2023.


Emergency hospital admissions for hip fractures, ages 65 and over

Persons, 65+ years

Time period London Value 95% confidence interval lower limit 95% confidence interval upper limit England Value
2010/11 581 566 597 615
2011/12 577 561 592 612
2012/13 562 547 578 600
2013/14 566 551 581 616
2014/15 553 538 568 601
2015/16 523 509 538 593
2016/17 518 504 532 580
2017/18 540 526 554 584
2018/19 514 500 528 566
2019/20 505 491 518 581
2020/21 464 451 477 539
2021/22 493 479 506 551
2022/23 502 489 516 558

You can find more information about this indicator and related data on our Fingertips website. Fingertips is a data platform that contains a large range of indicators organised into topics, such as tobacco, mental health, and mortality.

View emergency hospital admissions for hip fractures, ages 65 and over data.

View the emergency hospital admissions for hip fractures, ages 65 and over definition.

Visit the musculoskeletal health: local profiles on Fingertips for more information on musculoskeletal health.

Source: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities using NHS England Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) and Office for National Statistics (ONS) mid year population estimates

The line chart shows the rate of emergency hospital admissions for fractured neck of femur in people aged 65 and over. The directly standardised rate in London decreased from 581 per 100,000 in the financial year ending 2011 to 502 per 100,000 in the financial year ending 2023.


Rheumatoid arthritis prevalence

Persons, 16+ years

Time period London Value 95% confidence interval lower limit 95% confidence interval upper limit England Value
2013/14 0.54 0.53 0.54 0.73
2014/15 0.53 0.53 0.54 0.73
2015/16 0.54 0.54 0.55 0.73
2016/17 0.54 0.54 0.55 0.74
2017/18 0.54 0.54 0.55 0.75
2018/19 0.55 0.54 0.55 0.76
2019/20 0.55 0.55 0.56 0.77
2020/21 0.55 0.54 0.55 0.77
2021/22 0.54 0.54 0.55 0.77
2022/23 0.54 0.53 0.54 0.76
2023/24 0.55 0.54 0.55 0.77

You can find more information about this indicator and related data on our Fingertips website. Fingertips is a data platform that contains a large range of indicators organised into topics, such as tobacco, mental health, and mortality.

View rheumatoid arthritis prevalence data.

View the rheumatoid arthritis prevalence definition.

Visit the musculoskeletal health: local profiles on Fingertips for more information on musculoskeletal health.

Source: Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), NHS England

The line chart shows the percentage of patients aged 16 and over with rheumatoid arthritis recorded on practice disease register. The crude rate in London changed from 0.54% in the financial year ending 2014 to 0.55% in the financial year ending 2024.


Osteoporosis prevalence, ages 50 and over

Persons, 50+ years

Time period London Value 95% confidence interval lower limit 95% confidence interval upper limit England Value
2012/13 0.20 0.20 0.21 0.25
2013/14 0.31 0.30 0.31 0.40
2014/15 0.16 0.15 0.16 0.17
2015/16 0.25 0.25 0.26 0.31
2016/17 0.32 0.31 0.33 0.47
2017/18 0.40 0.39 0.41 0.62
2018/19 0.49 0.48 0.50 0.79
2019/20 0.55 0.54 0.55 0.85
2020/21 0.49 0.48 0.49 0.76
2021/22 0.55 0.54 0.56 0.85
2022/23 0.61 0.60 0.62 0.97
2023/24 0.65 0.64 0.65 1.10

You can find more information about this indicator and related data on our Fingertips website. Fingertips is a data platform that contains a large range of indicators organised into topics, such as tobacco, mental health, and mortality.

View osteoporosis prevalence, ages 50 and over data.

View the osteoporosis prevalence, ages 50 and over definition.

Visit the musculoskeletal health: local profiles on Fingertips for more information on musculoskeletal health.

Source: Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), NHS England

The line chart shows the percentage of patients aged 50 and over with osteoporosis recorded on practice disease register. The crude rate in London increased from 0.20% in the financial year ending 2013 to 0.65% in the financial year ending 2024.