Arthritis Statistics
Sonia Jones ND from The Haven Spa and Health Clinic
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An estimated 46 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.
By 2030, an estimated 67 million Americans ages 18 years or older are projected to have doctor-diagnosed arthritis.
In 2003–2005 – 50% of adults 65 years or older reported an arthritis diagnosis.
An estimated 294,000 children under age 18 have some form of arthritis or rheumatic condition; this represents approximately 1 in every 250 children.
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.
An estimated 3.0 million adults had gout in 2005,
An estimated 5.0 million adults had fibromyalgia in 2005.
Different sectors of the population
Persons aged 18–44, 7.9% (8.7 million) report doctor-diagnosed arthritis.
Persons aged 45–64, 29.3% (20.5 million) report doctor-diagnosed arthritis.
Persons aged 65+, 50.0% (17.2 million) report doctor-diagnosed arthritis.
28.3 million women and 18.1 million men report doctor-diagnosed arthritis.
3.1 million Hispanic adults report doctor-diagnosed arthritis.
4.6 million Non-Hispanic Blacks report doctor diagnosed arthritis.
Obesity
People who are overweight or obese report more doctor-diagnosed arthritis than people with a lower body mass index (BMI).
- 16% of under/normal weight adults report doctor-diagnosed arthritis.
- 21.7% of overweight and 30.6% among obese Americans report doctor-diagnosed arthritis.
- 66% of adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis are overweight or obese (compared with 53% of adults without doctor-diagnosed arthritis).
- Weight loss of as little as 11 pounds reduces the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis among women by 50%.
Impact on quality of life
Approximately 5% of ALL U.S. adults between the ages of 18 and 64 have arthritis and are affected by arthritis-attributable work limitation.
Arthritis and other rheumatic conditions are the most common cause of disability in the United States.
Nearly 41% of adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis report arthritis-attributable activity limitations.
Among adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis, many report significant limitations in vital activities such as:
- walking 1/4 mile—6 million
- stooping/bending/kneeling—7.8 million
- climbing stairs—4.8 million
- social activities such as church and family gatherings—2.1 million
30.6% of adults aged 18-64 with doctor-diagnosed arthritis report an arthritis-attributable work limitation.
The cost of arthritis financially
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.
Medical expenditures (direct costs) for arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in 2003 were 80.8 billion dollars, up from 51.1 billion in 1997.
Earnings losses (indirect costs) for arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in 2003 were 47 billion dollars, up from 35.1 billion in 1997.