Wisconsin Arthritis Program
Statistics
Arthritis is a leading cause of disability in the United States, where about 23% of adults (49 million) report that they have
doctor-diagnosed arthritis.1*
In Wisconsin, 27% of the adult population, approximately 1.1 million,
report doctor-diagnosed arthritis*. Among those people, about 54% of adults
over 65 years have arthritis, compared to 34% of adults 45-64 and 12% of
adults 18-44.
Nationally, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate the
total costs of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions at $86.2 billion.
This includes $51.1 billion in direct costs (ambulatory care,
hospitalizations, etc) and $35.1 billion in indirect costs (disability, lost
productivity, etc). Wisconsin’s share of this burden of arthritis is
estimated at $1.7 billion including $1.02 billion direct costs and $0.7
billion indirect costs. 2
Other Wisconsin doctor-diagnosed arthritis-related information**:
- More women (30%) than men (23%) have arthritis.
- About 21% of working age adults (18-64 years) have arthritis.
Nearly 29% of working age adults (18-64 years) report arthritis or joint
symptoms affects work for pay.
- Of persons with arthritis, 40% are obese.
*In 2003 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
revised its definition of arthritis. Previously, persons with self-reported
chronic joint symptoms were included in the definition of arthritis, along
with those diagnosed by a physician. The current definition includes only
those with a physician diagnosis. All others are labeled as "possible
arthritis."
**The arthritis prevalence data source is the 2003
Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (BRFS). Readers should exercise caution when
reviewing arthritis prevalence data from prior years. For example, the
prevalence data reported in "Arthritis in Wisconsin" and the
"Wisconsin
Arthritis Action Plan" contain BRFS 2000 and 2001 data which uses the
previous case definition of arthritis and therefore are not comparable with
2003 data.
-
CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, 2003.
-
MMWR. Update: Direct and indirect costs of arthritis
and other rheumatic conditions – United States, 1997. May 14, 2004,
53(18); 388-389.
Last Revised: July 19, 2005 |
