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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Achilles Tendinopathy | Research article

Prevalence and incidence rate of lower-extremity tendinopathies in a Danish general practice: a registry-based study

Authors: Henrik Riel, Cassandra Frydendal Lindstrøm, Michael Skovdal Rathleff, Martin Bach Jensen, Jens Lykkegaard Olesen

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

Tendinopathies of the lower extremity (e.g. Achilles, patellar, and plantar heel pain) are common in both general and sporting populations. However, the prevalence and incidence in Danish general practice is unknown. The aim was to determine the prevalence and incidence rate of lower-extremity tendinopathies in a Danish general practice.

Methods

In this registry-based study, we extracted data from the electronic patient files of all patients in a single Danish general practice. The practice included 8836 patients. We searched ICPC-2 codes to identify patients with either of the following lower-extremity tendinopathies: plantar heel pain; Achilles tendinopathy; patellar tendinopathy; greater trochanteric pain syndrome or adductor tendinopathy. We defined an incident and prevalent case as a patient with a consultation because of tendinopathy in 2016 only. A prevalent, but not incident case was a patient with consultations in both 2015 and 2016. Incidence and prevalence were expressed as the number of patients with a tendinopathy per 1000 registered patients.

Results

The prevalence and incidence rate were 16.6 and 7.9 per 1000 registered patients, respectively. Plantar heel pain was the most prevalent tendinopathy and accounted for 39% of lower-extremity tendinopathies. Patients with tendinopathies were significantly older than all registered patients (46.0 years (95%CI: 43.3;48.7) versus 38.8 years (95%CI: 38.4;39.3), respectively).

Conclusions

Lower-extremity tendinopathies, especially plantar heel pain, had a high prevalence and incidence rate in a Danish general practice. In a typical general practice with 5000 patients, general practitioners should expect to see more than 80 patients with a lower-extremity tendinopathy every year.
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Metadata
Title
Prevalence and incidence rate of lower-extremity tendinopathies in a Danish general practice: a registry-based study
Authors
Henrik Riel
Cassandra Frydendal Lindstrøm
Michael Skovdal Rathleff
Martin Bach Jensen
Jens Lykkegaard Olesen
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-019-2629-6

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