More Americans Limited By Arthritis Pain

Nearly One in Ten Says Joint Pain Impacts Daily Activity   

ATLANTA, Nov. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A government report released today found the number of adults with arthritis is rising by about 1 million people each year, and along with it, the debilitating impact of the disease. The report reaffirms previous predictions that cases of arthritis would rise rapidly with the aging of the population. However, the impact of arthritis on activity limitations is exceeding previous estimates, says the Arthritis Foundation.

"The sharp rise in activity limitations is alarming," says Arthritis Foundation President and CEO, Ann M. Palmer. "More people are hurting when they walk and climb the stairs, and they may be curbing activities they love due to severe pain and limited mobility caused by the disease. We must reverse this trend by investing more dollars in research to find a cure for arthritis and providing health intervention programs to help people be more active today."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study published in the Nov. 8 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, arthritis affects the daily activities of about 23 million adults, up from 21 million during 2007-2009, and not far from the projection of 25 million that wasn't expected until 2030.

The report also confirms the disease is common, impacting about 23 percent of the adult population. The 2013 report shows that the number of adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis climbed from roughly 50 million to 53 million over the last three years. Arthritis also carries a heavy financial burden, costing the U.S. economy $128 billion annually. 

"The number of U.S. adults with arthritis is increasing. This amounts to an average increase of approximately 2,400 individuals per day," says Dr. Wayne H. Giles, Director of the Division of Population Health at the CDC. "Because arthritis occurs so often with other conditions like diabetes and heart disease, arthritis limitations may be interfering with the recommended management of those conditions, especially in regards to physical activity."

Among the report's findings from 2010-2012:

• Arthritis impacts daily activities of:
  • Roughly one in 10 adults in the U.S.
  • Nearly half of all adults with arthritis
  • More than 15 percent of obese adults
  • More than a quarter of adults with heart disease or diabetes
• Arthritis commonly co-occurs with obesity, heart disease and diabetes:
  • Half of all adults with heart disease or diabetes have arthritis
  • One-third of obese adults have arthritis

The Arthritis Foundation is working to help address this ever-growing problem by advocating for policies and programs to help people get treatment and care, driving innovative research toward a cure, and providing information and programs to help people manage their disease. In addition, events such as the Arthritis Foundation Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis bring the community together each year to raise funds to fight and cure arthritis.

To learn more about the impact of arthritis and what you can do about it, visit www.arthritis.org/newsnov2013.

About the Arthritis Foundation
Striking one in every five adults and 300,000 children, arthritis is the nation's most common cause of disability. The Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org) is committed to raising awareness and reducing the unacceptable impact of this serious and painful disease, which can severely damage joints and rob people of living life to its fullest. The Foundation funds life-changing research that has restored mobility in patients for more than six decades; fights for health care policies that improve the lives of the millions who live with arthritis; and partners with families to provide empowering programs and information.

SOURCE Arthritis Foundation