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United States Value:
Percentage of women ages 18-44 who reported being told by a health professional that they have some form of arthritis
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Percentage of women ages 18-44 who reported being told by a health professional that they have some form of arthritis
Percentage of women ages 18-44 who reported being told by a health professional that they have some form of arthritis
Percentage of women ages 18-44 who reported being told by a health professional that they have some form of arthritis
CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Percentage of women ages 18-44 who reported being told by a health professional that they have some form of arthritis
CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
US Value: 9.7%
Top State(s): Hawaii: 6.2%
Bottom State(s): West Virginia: 18.9%
Definition: Percentage of women ages 18-44 who reported being told by a health professional that they have some form of arthritis
Data Source and Years: CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2019-2020
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2023.
Arthritis is a general term that describes over 100 conditions that result in inflammation or swelling of the joints, together affecting 58.5 million U.S. adults. More than a quarter of adults with arthritis experience severe chronic joint pain. Many adults with arthritis also experience limitations in daily activities such as walking, standing, sitting and reaching and grasping objects, making arthritis a leading cause of workplace disability. Common symptoms of arthritis include pain, redness, heat or swelling of the joints, trouble moving around, and rash or itch.
Arthritis is more prevalent among women than men. This includes the most common form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (a chronic autoimmune and inflammatory disease also known as RA), which also significantly affects women more than men. By 2040, an estimated 78.4 million adults are projected to have arthritis, two-thirds of whom will be women.
In 2013, the total cost of arthritis to the U.S., including medical care costs and lost earnings attributable to arthritis, was $303.5 billion.
Women who have never given birth and who do not breastfeed have an increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Other risk factors for arthritis include having obesity or overweight, having a history of joint injury or infection, smoking and performing a job that requires a lot of repetitive bending or squatting.
The prevalence of arthritis is higher among:
Strategies to reduce risk of arthritis include maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in regular physical activity and avoiding joint injuries. For those with arthritis, participating in physical activity can alleviate joint pain and improve their quality of life. Joint-friendly exercises include walking, biking and swimming.
Common treatments for adults with arthritis include medications that can slow the progress of the disease, pain medications and self-management strategies. Non-medication pain management tools and strategies include massage, acupuncture and chiropractic care. Joint replacement surgery is also an option for some when medication and other alternatives have been exhausted.
Arthritis-related Healthy People 2030 objectives include:
Barbour, Kamil E., Michael Boring, Charles G. Helmick, Louise B. Murphy, and Jin Qin. 2016. “Prevalence of Severe Joint Pain Among Adults with Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis — United States, 2002–2014.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 65 (39): 1052–56. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6539a2.
Barbour, Kamil E., Charles G. Helmick, Michael Boring, and Teresa J. Brady. 2017. “Vital Signs: Prevalence of Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis and Arthritis-Attributable Activity Limitation — United States, 2013–2015.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 66 (9): 246–53. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6609e1.
Chen, Haiyan, Jing Wang, Wang Zhou, Huabin Yin, and Meimei Wang. 2015. “Breastfeeding and Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Metaanalysis.” The Journal of Rheumatology 42 (9): 1563–69. https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.150195.
Hootman, Jennifer M., Charles G. Helmick, Kamil E. Barbour, Kristina A. Theis, and Michael A. Boring. 2016. “Updated Projected Prevalence of Self-Reported Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis and Arthritis-Attributable Activity Limitation Among US Adults, 2015-2040.” Arthritis & Rheumatology 68 (7): 1582–87. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.39692.
Murphy, Louise B., Miriam G. Cisternas, David J. Pasta, Charles G. Helmick, and Edward H. Yelin. 2018. “Medical Expenditures and Earnings Losses Among US Adults With Arthritis in 2013.” Arthritis Care & Research 70 (6): 869–76. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.23425.
Theis, Kristina A., Douglas W. Roblin, Charles G. Helmick, and Ruiyan Luo. 2018. “Prevalence and Causes of Work Disability among Working-Age U.S. Adults, 2011–2013, NHIS.” Disability and Health Journal 11 (1): 108–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2017.04.010.
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