It's good that a study is examining the prevalence. The study seems to confirm previous estimates of the prevalence of hEDS being around 1 in 5000.
This new study found that 10 out of every 5000 people have either EDS or joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS).
JHS is now an old classification, but it says
here that most people with JHS will fit into the new classification of hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD).
And it says
here that HSD is a diagnosis given to people when they do not meet the strict diagnostic criteria for EDS or hEDS, but nevertheless have some joint hypermobility. So HSD is a mild form of EDS.
The study is mixing people with true EDS (which includes hEDS — around 90% of those with EDS will have the hEDS variety) with people with the milder condition of HSD.
So it's not immediately clear from the results section of the study what percentage of the population have EDS, because their figure of 10 on 5000 has combined EDS with HSD. However, the study says this:
So it looks like 87% of he people they considered had HSD, and 13% had EDS.
So this works out to around 1 in 5000 having EDS. Which is in line with previous estimates, but this study provides actual data to support the estimate. So I think we can now be more confident in saying that around 1 in 5000 have EDS.
The study also says:
So you may start off being HSD, but you may get worse so that you later become hEDS.