This systematic review and meta-analysis pooled data from 78 papers (76 surveys, ~497,000 participants) to generate the first comprehensive population-level prevalence estimates for hallux valgus, stratified by age and sex, and to identify methodological factors driving variation across studies.
When a female patient over 65 presents with forefoot pain, hallux valgus should be high on your differential — pooled prevalence exceeds 35% in this demographic.
When reading HV literature, scrutinize the diagnostic method and sampling strategy: a study drawing from podiatry clinic patients will report far higher rates than a community random sample, and fewer than 1 in 5 studies even defined HV by angular criteria.
This systematic review and meta-analysis pooled data from 78 papers (76 surveys, ~497,000 participants) to generate the first comprehensive population-level prevalence estimates for hallux valgus, stratified by age and sex, and to identify methodological factors driving variation across studies.
When a female patient over 65 presents with forefoot pain, hallux valgus should be high on your differential — pooled prevalence exceeds 35% in this demographic.
When reading HV literature, scrutinize the diagnostic method and sampling strategy: a study drawing from podiatry clinic patients will report far higher rates than a community random sample, and fewer than 1 in 5 studies even defined HV by angular criteria.