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Arthritis-Related Statistics

Prevalence of Arthritis

Note: There are different data sources for some of the arthritis-related statistics therefore; case definitions and terminology will also vary. Read more.

An estimated 50 million adults in the United States reported being told by a doctor that they have some form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, or fibromyalgia.

MMWR 2010;59(39);1261-1265. [Data Source: 2007–2009 NHIS]

One in five (22%) adults in the United States report having doctor diagnosed arthritis.

MMWR 2010;59(39);1261-1265. [Data Source: 2007–2009 NHIS]

In 2007–2009, 50% of adults 65 years or older reported an arthritis diagnosis.

MMWR 2010;59(39);1261-1265. [Data Source: 2007–2009 NHIS]

By 2030, an estimated 67 million Americans ages 18 years or older are projected to have doctor-diagnosed arthritis.

Arthritis & Rheumatism 2006;54(1):226-229 [Data Source: 2003 NHIS]

An estimated 294,000 children under age 18 have some form of arthritis or rheumatic condition; this represents approximately 1 in every 250 children in the U.S.

Arthritis Care Res 2007;57:1439-1445 [Data Source: 2001–2004 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and 2001–2004 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey]

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Prevalence of Specific Types of Arthritis

Note: There are different data sources for some of the arthritis related statistics therefore; case definitions and terminology will also vary. Read more.

The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. Other common rheumatic conditions include gout, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis.

An estimated 27 million adults had osteoarthritis in 2005.

Arthritis Rheum 2008;58(1):26–35. [Data Source: NHANES]

An estimated 1.5 million adults had rheumatoid arthritis in 2007.

Arthritis Rheum. 2010 Jun;62(6):1576-82. [Data source: Patient Cohort, Minnesota]

An estimated 3.0 million adults had gout in 2005, and 6.1 million adults have ever had gout.

Arthritis Rheum 2008;58(1):26–35. [Data Source: 1996 NHIS]

An estimated 5.0 million adults had fibromyalgia in 2005.

Arthritis Rheum 2008;58(1):26–35.

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Prevalence of Arthritis by Age/Race/Gender

Note: There are different data sources for some of the arthritis related statistics therefore; case definitions and terminology will also vary. Read more.

Of persons ages 18–44, 7.6% report doctor-diagnosed arthritis. Of persons ages 45–64, 29.8% report doctor-diagnosed arthritis. Of persons ages 65 or older, 50.0% report doctor-diagnosed arthritis.

MMWR 2010;59(39);1261-1265. [Data Source: 2007–2009 NHIS]

25.9% of women and 18.3% men report doctor-diagnosed arthritis.

MMWR 2010;59(39);1261-1265. [Data Source: 2007–2009 NHIS]

An estimated 294,000 children under age 18 have some form of arthritis or rheumatic condition; this represents approximately 1 in every 250 children in the U.S.

Arthritis Care Res 2007;57:1439-1445 [Data Source: 2001–2004 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and 2001–2004 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey]

2.9 million Hispanic adults report doctor-diagnosed arthritis.

Prev Chronic Dis. 2010 May;7(3):A64. [Data source:  NHIS 2002, 2003, 2006]

4.6 million Non-Hispanic Blacks report doctor diagnosed arthritis.

Prev Chronic Dis. 2010 May;7(3):A64. [Data source:  NHIS 2002, 2003, 2006]

667,000 Asian/Pacific Islanders and 280,000 American Indians/Alaska Natives report doctor-diagnosed arthritis.

Prev Chronic Dis. 2010 May;7(3):A64. [Data source:  NHIS 2002, 2003, 2006]

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Overweight/Obesity and Arthritis (adult ages ≥18)

Note: There are different data sources for some of the arthritis related statistics; therefore, case definitions and terminology will also vary. Read more.

People who are overweight or obese report doctor-diagnosed arthritis than people with a lower body mass index (BMI).

  • 16.4% of under/normal weight adults report doctor-diagnosed arthritis.

    MMWR 2010;59(39);1261-1265. [Data Source: 2007–2009 NHIS]

  • 21.4% of overweight and 31.1% among obese Americans report doctor-diagnosed arthritis.

    MMWR 2010;59(39);1261-1265. [Data Source: 2007–2009 NHIS]

  • 66% of adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis are overweight or obese (compared with 53% of adults without doctor-diagnosed arthritis).

    Am J Prev Med 2006;30(5):385–393. [Data Source: 2002 NHIS]

  • Weight loss of as little as 11 pounds reduces the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis among women by 50%.

    Arthritis Rheum 1998;41(8):1343–1355. [Data source: Framingham Osteoarthritis Study]

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Physical Activity and Arthritis

Note: There are different data sources for some of the arthritis related statistics; therefore, case definitions and terminology will also vary. Read more.

Almost 44% of adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis report no leisure time physical activity compared with 36% of adults without arthritis.

Am J Prev Med 2006;30(5):385-393.

Among older adults with knee osteoarthritis, engaging in moderate physical activity at least 3 times per week can reduce the risk of arthritis-related disability by 47%.

Arch Intern Med 2001;161(19):2309–2316. [Data Source: FAST Trial]

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Disability/Limitations and Arthritis

Note: There are different data sources for some of the arthritis related statistics; therefore, case definitions and terminology will also vary. Read more.

State-specific prevalence estimates of arthritis-attributable work limitation show a high impact of arthritis on working-age (18-64 years) adults in all U.S. states, ranging from a low of 3.4% to a high of 15% of adults in this age group.

MMWR 2007;56(40):1045-1049. [Data Source: 2003 BRFSS]

Approximately 5% of ALL U.S. adults between the ages of 18 and 64 have arthritis and are affected by arthritis-attributable work limitation.

MMWR 2005;54(5):119–123. [Data Source: 2002 NHIS]
Arthritis Rheum 2007;57(3):355-363. [Data Source: NHIS 2002]

Approximately 1 in 3 people with arthritis in between the ages of 18 and 64 report arthritis-attributable work limitation.

MMWR 2005;54(5):119–123. [Data Source: 2002 NHIS]
Arthritis Rheum 2007;57(3):355-363. [Data Source: NHIS 2002]

Among all civilian, non-institutionalized U.S. adults ages 18-64, 5% (8.2 million) report both doctor diagnosed arthritis and arthritis-attributable work limitations.

MMWR 2005;54(5):119–123. [Data Source: 2002 NHIS]

31% of adults ages 18-64 with doctor-diagnosed arthritis report arthritis-attributable work limitation.

MMWR 2005;54(5):119–123. [Data Source: 2002 NHIS]

Arthritis and other rheumatic conditions are the most common cause of disability among U.S. adults and have been for the past 15 years.

MMWR 2009;58(16):421-426. [Data Source: 2005 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)]

Among all civilian, non-institutionalized U.S. adults 9.4% (21 million) report both doctor-diagnosed and arthritis attributable activity limitations.

MMWR 2010;59(39);1261-1265. [Data Source: 2007–2009 NHIS]

42% of adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis report arthritis-attributable activity limitations.

MMWR 2010;59(39);1261-1265. [Data Source: 2007–2009 NHIS]

Among adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis, many report significant limitations in vital activities such as:

  • walking 1/4 mile—6 million
  • stooping/bending/kneeling—8 million
  • climbing stairs—5 million
  • social activities such as church and family gatherings—2 million


    • Arthritis Rheum 2004;50(9, suppl):5641.  [Data Source: 2002 NHIS]

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Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) and Arthritis

Note: There are different data sources for some of the arthritis related statistics; therefore, case definitions and terminology will also vary. Read more.

People with doctor-diagnosed arthritis have significantly worse HRQOL than those without arthritis. People with doctor-diagnosed report more than twice as many unhealthy days and three times as many days with activity limitations in the past month than those without arthritis.

J Rheumatology 2003;30(1):160–6. [Data Source: 1996-1999 BRFSS]

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Arthritis Healthcare Utilization

Note: There are different data sources for some of the arthritis related statistics; therefore, case definitions and terminology will also vary. Read more.

Hospitalizations

In 2004, there were an estimated 744,000 hospitalizations with a principal diagnosis of arthritis (3% of all hospitalizations). Overall, 5 million hospitalizations had a principal or secondary diagnosis of arthritis.

[Data source: 2004 NHDS]

Ambulatory Care

There were 44 million ambulatory care visits with a primary diagnosis of arthritis or other rheumatic conditions in 2004, or nearly 5% of all ambulatory care visits that year.  Overall, there were 66 million ambulatory care visits with a primary or secondary diagnosis of arthritis or other rheumatic conditions.

United States Bone and Joint Decade: The Burden of Musculoskeletal Diseases in the United States.  Rosemont, IL.: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; 2008. [Data Source: 2004 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and the 1997 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS)]

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Arthritis-Related Mortality

Note: There are different data sources for some of the arthritis related statistics; therefore, case definitions and terminology will also vary. Read more.

From 1979-1998, the annual number of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions (AORC) deaths rose from 5,537 to 9,367.

J Rheumatology 2004;31(9):1823–1828. [Data Source: 1979–1998 National Vital Statistics System]

Three categories of AORC account for almost 80% of deaths: diffuse connective tissue diseases (34%), other specified rheumatic conditions (23%), and rheumatoid arthritis (22%).

J Rheumatology 2004;31(9):1823–1828. [Data Source: 1979–1998 National Vital Statistics System]

In 1979, the crude death rate from AORC was 2.46 per 100,000 population. In 1998, it was 3.48 per 100,000 population; rates age-standardized to the year 2000 population were 2.75 and 3.51, respectively.

J Rheumatology 2004;31(9):1823–1828. [Data Source: 1979–1998 National Vital Statistics System]

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Arthritis Costs

Note: There are different data sources for some of the arthritis related statistics; therefore,; case definitions and terminology will also vary. Read more.

In 2003, the total cost attributed to arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in the United States was 128 billion dollars, up from 86.2 billion dollars in 1997.

MMWR 2007;56(01):4-7. [Data Source: 2003 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey]

Medical expenditures (direct costs) for arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in 2003 were 80.8 billion dollars, up from 51.1 billion in 1997.

MMWR 2007;56(01):4-7. [Data Source: 2003 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey]

Earnings losses (indirect costs) for arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in 2003 were 47 billion dollars, up from 35.1 billion in 1997.

MMWR 2007;56(01):4-7. [Data Source: 2003 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey]

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Mental/Emotional Health and Arthritis

Note: There are different data sources for some of the arthritis related statistics; therefore,; case definitions and terminology will also vary. Read more.

Arthritis is strongly associated with major depression (attributable risk of 18.1%), probably through its role in creating functional limitation.

Medical Care 2004;42(6):502–511. [Data Source: 1996 Health and Retirement Survey]

6.6% of adults with arthritis report severe psychological distress.


Int. J Public Health, 2009;S4:S75-83 [Data Source: 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System]

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Total Joint Replacements in Arthritis

Note: There are different data sources for some of the arthritis related statistics; therefore,; case definitions and terminology will also vary. Read more.

In 2004, there were 454,652 total knee replacements performed, primarily for arthritis.

United States Bone and Joint Decade: The Burden of Musculoskeletal Diseases in the United States. Rosemont, IL: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons;2008.

In 2004, there were 232,857 total hip replacements, 41,934 shoulder, and 12,055 other joint replacements, primarily for arthritis.

United States Bone and Joint Decade: The Burden of Musculoskeletal Diseases in the United States. Rosemont, IL: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons;2008.

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