Arthritis Statistics

According to the Center of Disease Control, arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States. Each year arthritis impacts the United States with:

• 9,500 deaths
• 750,000 hospitalizations
• 8 million people with limitations
• 36 million ambulatory care visits
• 49 million people with self-reported, doctor-diagnosed arthritis
• 51 billion in medical costs and $86 billion in total costs

 

According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases:

• More than 20 million people in the United States have osteoarthritis.
• By 2030, 20 percent of Americans--about 70 million people--will be over 65 years of age and will be at risk for osteoarthritis.   Osteoarthritis among young individuals usually occurs as a result of joint injury. The disease most often occurs in older people.
• If given an x-ray, more than half of the population age 65 or older (male and female) would display evidence of osteoarthritis in at least one joint.
• Before age 45, more men than women have osteoarthritis. After age 45, osteoarthritis is more common among women.

Fig. 1. Arthritis prevalence in the United States (From U.S. Food and Drug Association).