CDC reports 70 million have arthritis or chronic joint pain

Physicians can help by promoting a program of physical activity that patients can adhere to.

By Susan J. Landers, AMNews staff. Nov. 18, 2002.

Washington -- A new head count by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that one in every three adults in the United States has arthritis or chronic joint pain, resulting in a total of 70 million people -- a major increase over the previous estimate of 43 million.

"Arthritis is the No. 1 cause of disability, and the new data confirm that arthritis and chronic joint symptoms are one of our most common public health problems," said CDC Director Julie L. Gerberding, MD, MPH.

Demographics dictate that the numbers of those with the debilitating condition will only continue to grow, as the main causes of most degenerative arthritis are aging and obesity. Baby boomers' quality of life in retirement will likely become an important health care consideration.

Those experiencing pain are advised to take their disease seriously and "see a [physician] at the earliest warning signs of arthritis so that they can continue to enjoy active life and avoid future limitations," said John H. Klippel, MD, medical director of the Arthritis Foundation.

In arriving at its 70 million figure, the CDC telephoned more than 212,000 adults 18 and older and asked them if their physician had ever told them they had arthritis or if they had experienced chronic joint symptoms during the past 12 months.

Asking about chronic joint symptoms was something that hadn't been done before and is the primary reason for the large leap in the numbers of those identified, said Chad Helmick, MD, a medical epidemiologist with the CDC's arthritis program. [...]