Program Descriptions California

California Arthritis Program

Arthritis Burden in California

More than 20% of adult Californians have doctor-diagnosed arthritis (5.0 million adults); 3.0 million are women and over 2.0 million are men. The prevalence of arthritis increases with age; 6% of Californians between the ages of 18–44 have arthritis, 30% of Californians between the ages of 45-64 have arthritis, 47% of Californians between the ages of 65-74 have arthritis, and 53% of Californians age 75 years and older have arthritis. Arthritis affects all race and ethnic groups; 27% of Whites have arthritis; 29% of Blacks have arthritis; and 13% of Hispanics have arthritis. The disabling effects of arthritis, such as arthritis-attributable activity limitations, work limitations, severe joint pain, and social participation restrictions, affect some racial/ethnic groups more severely.

Lack of physical activity and obesity are modifiable risk factors for arthritis pain and functional limitation. Nearly 40% of people with arthritis do not get sufficient amounts of physical activity and an additional 16% report being inactive. Among adults with arthritis, 33% are obese and another 36% are overweight.

Arthritis affects a large proportion of California adults who also have other chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Arthritis may make it more difficult for people to be physically active. To effectively manage chronic health conditions arthritis-specific barriers to physical activity need to be addressed to improve overall self-management and health.

Of California adults:

• with diabetes, 884,000 (40%) also have arthritis.
• with heart disease, 627,000 (50%) also have arthritis.
• with high blood pressure, 2,435,000 (38%) also have arthritis.
• with high cholesterol, 2,413,000 (34%) also have arthritis.

California Arthritis Partnership Program (CAPP)

The California Arthritis Partnership Program (CAPP) is improving the quality of life of Californians affected by arthritis and other rheumatic conditions through increased awareness of the importance of physical activity and self-management, and increased access to evidence-based interventions. CAPP utilizes a systems-based approach to expand the reach and access of arthritis interventions, create sustainable partnerships to raise awareness about arthritis, and collaborate with other chronic disease programs to promote policy, environmental, and systems change to support healthy lifestyle behaviors and early intervention.

Key Partners

• California Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program
• California Diabetes Program
• California Smokers’ Helpline
• California Obesity Prevention Program
• California Active Communities
• California Department on Aging
• Arthritis Foundation, Pacific Region
• Arthritis Foundation, Northern California Chapter
• County Public Health Departments
• Community Health Clinics
• Partners in Care Foundation

Interventions and Partnership Highlights

The California Arthritis Partnership Program supports the expansion of evidence-based physical activity, self-management, and health communication campaign interventions throughout the State.

• Physical Activity: Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program and Walk with Ease.
• Self-Management: Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (English and Spanish), and the Arthritis Foundation Self-Help Program (English and Spanish).
• Health Communication Campaigns: available in English and Spanish.

California Arthritis Partnership Program is engaged in a three-year integrated project, the California Collaborative for Chronic Disease Prevention (CCCDP), with the California Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program, California Diabetes Program, and California Smokers’ Helpline to enhance local chronic disease prevention and health promotion. CCCDP is working with public health departments in Kern, Mendocino, Sacramento, and Shasta counties, and a community clinic in Nevada County. The project goal is to develop and implement shared strategies within the community, health care systems, and work place to improve access to evidence-based community chronic disease self-management, physical activity programs, and tobacco cessation resources, and to create environments supportive of individual lifestyle behaviors.

Program Documents

• California Arthritis Partnership Program Web site

Contact Information

Jackie S. Tompkins, MPH, CHES
California Department of Public Health
California Arthritis Partnership Program
P.O. Box 997377, MS 7210
Sacramento, CA 95899-7377
Telephone: (916) 552-9993
Fax: (916) 552-9910
E-mail: jacqueline.tompkins@cdph.ca.gov

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