Quick Stats on Arthritis

Prevalence

50 million adults in the United States have doctor-diagnosed arthritis (just over 1 in 5 adults). Read more.
The percentage of adults with arthritis ranges from 20% in California to 36% in Kentucky. State median is 26% in 2009. View the prevalence data for each state – list of states – clickable map.
Arthritis affects all race and ethnic groups: 36 million whites, 4.6 million blacks, 2.9 million Hispanics, 280,000 American Indians/Alaska Natives, 667,000 Asian/Pacific Islanders, and 469,000 multiracial/others. Read more.
The risk of arthritis increases with age and is more common among women than men. Read more.
In all U.S. states, 1 in 3 working-age adults (18-64 years old) face work limitations they attribute to arthritis; the prevalence of work limitations due to arthritis varies by state. Read more.
An estimated 294,000 children under age 18 have some form of arthritis or rheumatic condition, this represents approximately 1 in every 250 children. abstract – arthritis type table – state table

Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the United States. Read more. View graph.
Number of U. S. Adults Reporting a Disability is Increasing — A new CDC study shows that 47.5 million US adults (21.8%) reported a disability 1 in 2005, an increase of 3.4 million from 1999. Arthritis or rheumatism (8.6 million) continues to be the most common cause of disability, while back or spine problems (7.6 million) and heart trouble (3.0 million) round out the top three causes. Read more in the MMWR and CDC Feature.
Nearly 21 million adults say that arthritis limits their usual activities in some way. 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 1 in 2 adults with arthritis in this age group. Read more. State maps relating to this publication are available. Map 1 and Map 2
8.2 million working aged U.S. adults (about 1 in 20) report work limitations due to arthritis or joint symptoms. Read more.
Blacks and Hispanics with arthritis have almost twice the prevalence of work limitation and severe pain compared to Whites. 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. ($80.8 billion in medical care expenditures and $47 billion in earnings losses). Read more.
Medical expenditures (direct costs) for arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in 2003 were 80.8 billion dollars, up from 51.1 billion in 1997. Read more.
Earnings losses (indirect costs) for arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in 2003 were 47 billion dollars, up from 35.1 billion in 1997. Read more.
States ranged from $121 million in Wyoming to $8.4 billion in California. Read more.

Effective strategies exist to reduce the impact of arthritis. Read more.
Anticipating employment disability due to arthritis and addressing employment barriers through increased education, awareness, workplace accommodations, and other interventions can help reduce arthritis disability in the U.S. workforce. Read more.

A new CDC study shows that arthritis may be an unrecognized barrier for adults with heart disease attempting to manage their condition through physical activity; 29% of people with both conditions are physically inactive compared to 21% with heart disease alone. Read more in the MMMWR and CDC Feature.
More than half of adults with diagnosed diabetes also have arthritis. The study found that 29.8% of adults with arthritis and diabetes were physically inactive, compared with 21% of people with diabetes alone. Among people with diabetes, the high frequency of arthritis appears to be an under recognized barrier to increasing physical activity, a recommended diabetes intervention. Engaging in joint friendly activities; such as, walking, swimming, biking, and participating in available arthritis-specific exercise interventions can help manage both conditions. Read more.