Program Descriptions New Mexico

New Mexico Arthritis and Osteoporosis Prevention and Control Program

State Burden

New Mexico, the fifth largest state geographically, is primarily rural with 33 counties. New Mexico is a “minority majority” compared with other states, with 45% of its population Hispanic and 9% Native American. The total direct and indirect costs of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in New Mexico in 2003 is estimated at $770 million.

Of adults in New Mexico, 2009:

• 372,000 (26%) have arthritis
• 51% (190,000) have activity limitation due to their arthritis
• 27% (101,000) have severe joint pain due to their arthritis.
• 47% (59,000) with diabetes also have arthritis.
• 123,000 (35%) cannot do everything or most things they want to do.
• 202,000 (58%) were told by their doctor to exercise for their arthritis.

The New Mexico Arthritis Advisory Council

The AAG is made up of community members with expertise in arthritis, leadership, planning, evaluation, public health, aging services, social marketing, communication strategies and policy development. The AAG provided the content for the development of Arthritis in New Mexico: Blueprint for Action. The AAG was assembled to heighten awareness of arthritis as a public health issue and affect broad-based policy change.

Key Partners

• Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, New Mexico Department of Health
• City of Albuquerque, Department of Senior Affairs
• Greater Southwest Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation
• Jewish Family Service New Mexico
• Montañas del Norte Area Health Education Center, affiliated with Luna Community College
• New Mexico Aging and Long Term Services Department
• New Mexico Senior Olympics
• Office of Injury Prevention, New Mexico Department of Health
• Southern Area Health Education Center, affiliated with New Mexico State University
• University of New Mexico, Project ECHO

Intervention and Partnership Highlights

• Partnering with the Southern Area Health Education Center, Montañas del Norte Area Health Education Center, and City of Albuquerque, Department of Senior Affairs to deliver Stanford University’s Chronic Disease Self-Management Program.
• Partnering with the Greater Southwest Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation to deliver the following arthritis specific physical activity and self-management programs:
  • Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program
  • Arthritis Foundation Self-Help Program
• Partnering with the New Mexico Senior Olympics and Jewish Family Services of New Mexico to deliver Senior Services of Seattle’s award winning EnhanceFitness Program.
• Implementing the CDC recommended health communication campaign Buenos Dias Artritis
• Actively participating in the New Mexico Healthy Aging Collaborative
• The documents Arthritis in New Mexico: Blueprint for Action and Arthritis in New Mexico – Fact Sheet, 2010, were completed in July 2010, and printed with the support of the Arthritis Advisory Group.

Program Documents

• Arthritis in New Mexico: Blueprint for Action [PDF - 357KB]
• Arthritis in New Mexico – Fact Sheet, 2010 [PDF - 245KB]

Contact Information

Chris Lucero

Program Manager
Arthritis Program
Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Bureau

New Mexico Department of Health, Public Health Division
5301 Central Avenue NE, Suite 800
Albuquerque, NM 87108
Telephone: (505) 222-8605
Fax: (505) 841-5865
E-mail: Christopher.Lucero@state.nm.us

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