Embracing the complexity: a critical appraisal of global neck pain trends and research gaps

In The Lancet Rheumatology, the GBD 2021 Neck Pain Collaborators illuminate the persistent and escalating global challenge of neck pain.1 Their systematic analysis—extending from historical data to projections until 2050—not only underscores the unwavering prevalence of this condition, but also forecasts a significant rise in its incidence and prevalence. This comprehensive examination of the global burden of neck pain provides estimates differentiated by age, sex, and geographical location and reveals an intriguing trend—a 32·5% (95% uncertainty interval 23·9–42·3) increase in neck pain cases from 2020 to 2050.