Arthritis pain afflicts one in ten Americans

New figures have revealed that one in ten adults in the US is receiving treatment for pain caused by osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, in 2005, 21 million adults – approximately 9.5% of the adult population – either visited or called a doctor for a prescription to relieve them of pain caused by arthritis. The data also revealed that the incidence of arthritis varies widely between different ethnic groups, with 10.5% non-Hispanic white adults reporting having arthritis, compared with just 5.9% of Hispanic adults and 4.3% of non-Hispanic Asians. The condition also appears to afflict more women than men (11.9% versus 7.1%).

In the same year, approximately $32 billion was spent on treating arthritis, including – doctor visits (36%), hospital visits (31%), prescription drugs (21%), home health care (12%), and emergency room visits (<1%).  The average arthritis-related expense for each individual was $1,513.

Arthritis: Use and Expenditures among U.S. Noninstitutionalized Population, 2005. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. November 5th 2008.