Arthritis Facts

105 Million Americans Suffer From Chronic Pain Caused by Arthritis and Other Ailments

Arthritis is a More Frequent Cause of Activity Limitation Than Heart Disease, Cancer or Diabetes!

The Prevalence of Arthritis is Higher Among Women (25.9%) Than Men (16.8%)

Arthritis Prevalence Increases With Age, Among Adults Over Age 65, the Prevalence of Arthritis is 48%

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown of joint cartilage and is the most common form of arthritis.  Osteoarthritis affects nearly 21 million Americans, most over the age of 45.

In the United States, nearly 2.1 million people have rheumatoid arthritis, which is a systemic disease that affects the entire body and is characterized by the inflammation of the membrane lining the joint.  This causes pain, stiffness, warmth, redness and swelling.  There are 2.5 times as many women as men with rheumatoid arthritis.

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood and kidneys.  It affects at least 239,000 Americans and affects women 8 to 10 times more than men.

An estimated 2.1 million Americans have gout.  Gout causes sudden, severe attacks of pain and tenderness, redness, warmth, and swelling in some joints.  Gout usually affects one joint at a time - often the big toe.  It affects approximately 3 times more men than women.

Fibromyalgia, an arthritis-related condition that is characterized by generalized muscular pain and fatigue, affects approximately 3.7 million people, and it occurs more commonly in women than in men.