Characterizing shoulder disorders in Saudi Arabia: a retrospective, single-center study of prevalence, phenotypes, and risk factors
Keywords:
Arthritis, Joint dislocations, Musculoskeletal Diseases, Prevalence, Risk Factors, ShoulderAbstract
Background and aim:Shoulder disorders represent a global health issue with varying incidence. This study estimates the prevalence and predictors and identifies high-risk groups of shoulder disorders in Saudi Arabia.
Methods:A single-center retrospective study utilized the physical therapy department’s medical records in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia, including patients diagnosed with shoulder disorders from 2023 to 2025. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, classification tree, and binary logistic regression to assess the associations between shoulder disorder types and risk factors.
Results:Soft-tissue and degenerative shoulder conditions predominated, with rotator cuff syndrome comprising most cases (84.5%), followed by capsular-degenerative conditions (12.1%) and then traumatic dislocations (3.4%). Younger individuals were more likely to have traumatic dislocations, while middle-aged and older adults increasingly showed capsular-degenerative and, predominantly, rotator cuff and periarticular disorders. Females had a higher percentage of rotator cuff and soft-tissue disorders, while males exhibited more traumatic dislocations. Significant independent predictors included gender, nationality, age, body mass index, and residence.
Conclusions:Rotator cuff disorders are the most prevalent shoulder condition. Shoulder disorders are influenced by age, gender, and body mass index. Degenerative shoulder conditions progressively escalate with age, whereas traumatic disorders primarily affect younger populations. Gender-specific patterns are evident, with females being more likely to have rotator cuff and other soft-tissue disorders, while males are more prone to traumatic dislocations and non-rotator cuff conditions. Higher body mass index increases the risk of non-rotator cuff disorders, where obese females are particularly vulnerable to non-rotator cuff shoulder disorders compared to obese males.
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