CDC: 70 Million in U.S. Have Arthritis or Chronic Joint Symptoms

Almost 70 million American adults have arthritis and/or chronic joint symptoms, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System now provides estimates of arthritis/chronic joint symptoms for each state. The estimates were gathered in a state-based, random-digit-dialed telephone survey of people over age 18. The survey was given in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Participants in the survey were classified as having chronic joint symptoms if they answered "yes" to two questions: "In the past 12 months, have you had pain, aching, stiffness, or swelling in or around a joint?" and "Were these symptoms present on most days for at least a month?"

Respondents were considered to have arthritis if they answered "yes" to the question, "Have you ever been told by a doctor that you have arthritis?" The average response rate for 2001 was 51.4 percent.

In 2001, the estimated prevalence of arthritis/chronic joint symptoms among U.S. adults was 33.0 percent, representing approximately 69.9 million adults, including 10.6 percent (22.4 million) of the adult population with physician-diagnosed arthritis only, 10 percent (20.9 million) with chronic joint symptoms only, and 12.4 percent (26.6 million) with both.

Prevalence increased with age and women were more likely to have it than men. Arthritis was also more common among non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks than among Hispanics and persons of other racial/ethnic groups.

Other groups where these condistions were more prelalent were those who had not completed high school, those who were physically inactive, and those who were obese or overweight.

States in the central and northwestern United States had the highest prevalence. Prevalence of the disease ranged from 17.8 percent in Hawaii to 42.6 percent in West Virginia.

"Increased intervention efforts, including early diagnosis and appropriate clinical and self-management (e.g., physical activity, education, and maintaining appropriate weight), are needed to reduce the impact of arthritis and chronic joint symptoms," said the report.

Other sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention