Epidemiology and risk factors for Rotator cuff tears in Indian population

Abstract

Introduction: Rotator cuff disorders are a prevalent shoulder problem in clinical settings. The incidence of rotator cuff tears in cadaveric studies ranges from 5% to 40%, with multifactorial etiology. Limited data exists on the epidemiology of rotator cuff tears in the Indian population. This study aims to evaluate risk factors and demographic features associated with symptomatic rotator cuff tears.Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care center in Bangalore, India, involving 105 patients with MRI-confirmed full-thickness rotator cuff tears. A one-time evaluation assessed risk factors, demographic characteristics, and physical examination findings, including range of motion, strength, and impingement. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test to explore associations between age, gender, comorbidities, and rotator cuff tears.Results: The age distribution showed 5.48% in 31-40 years, 23.81% in 41-50 years, 40.95% in 51-60 years, 22.86% in 61-70 years, and 6.90% in >70 years. The male-to-female ratio was 1.56:1, with a significant gender difference (p = 0.03). Right shoulder involvement was more common (68.10%), with the dominant shoulder affected in 65 patients. Hypertension (29.5%) and type 2 diabetes (24.8%) were the most common comorbidities.Conclusion: Increasing age is the primary risk factor for rotator cuff tears, with risk rising proportionately with age. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are common comorbidities associated with rotator cuff disease in the Indian population.