To kick off our week long segment on arthritis... here are a few statistic you might not have known:
Arthritis Facts
Number of Americans with arthritis or chronic joint symptoms:
- 1985 - 35 million
- 1990 - 37.9 million
- 1998 - nearly 43 million (1 in 6 people)
- 2006 – 46 million (nearly 1 in 5 adults)
- Arthritis is one of the most prevalent chronic health problems and the nation’s leading cause of disability among Americans over age 15.
- Arthritis is second only to heart disease as a cause of work disability.
- Arthritis limits everyday activities such as walking, dressing and bathing for more than 7 million Americans.
- Arthritis results in 39 million physician visits and more than a half million hospitalizations.
- Costs to the U.S. economy totals $128 billion annually.
- Arthritis affects people in all age groups including nearly 300,000 children.
- Baby boomers are now at prime risk. More than half those affected are under age 65.
- Half of those Americans with arthritis don’t think anything can be done to help them.
- Arthritis refers to more than 100 different diseases that affect areas in or around joints.
- Arthritis strikes women more often than men.
Overall arthritis:
- Women - 24.3 million of the people with doctor-diagnosed arthritis
- Men - 17.1 million of the people with doctor-diagnosed arthritis
No comments:
Post a Comment