Study: Arthritis Much More Widespread in Wisconsin Than Thought

The first study to document the extent of arthritis in Wisconsin has found that just over one-third of the state's adults have arthritis -- twice as many as previously believed.

The surprising results of the Wisconsin Arthritis Advisory Council study are being attributed to an aging population and a new definition that includes people who have clinical symptoms associated with the disease, but who are not being treated for arthritis.

Until this study, state estimates were based on physician-reported data and left out those not clinically diagnosed with arthritis. Those numbers showed that only 16 percent of Wisconsin adults had arthritis.

The new study found that 1.3 million or 34 percent of adults in the state have some form of arthritis. Of those, 64 percent are overweight or obese and 56 percent get little or no exercise. About 18 percent of adults ages 18 to 44 have arthritis. The condition was also found in 43 percent of adults between 45 and 64 and in 62 percent of adults over 65.

Rheumatologist Mary Cronin told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the study shatters the myth that the disease affects only senior citizens and emphasizes the need for more people to get treatments to reduce inflammation at the first signs of trouble, rather than waiting for joint damage to occur.

A comprehensive state arthritis control plan is due out in April that will try to increase awareness among health care professionals and patients and encourage physical activity and self-management of the disease.

Other sources: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel