More adults in the United States are being diagnosed with arthritis, according to a National Interview Survey and reported in Medscape.
The report was originally published in Vital Signs and covers the increase in arthritis diagnoses from 2013 to 2015. Here are five things to know:
1. Approximately 22.7 percent of adults in the United States—54.4 million adults—have been diagnosed with arthritis.
2. Nearly half—49.6 percent—of Americas 65 years and older now have arthritis; young adults make up 7.1 percent of the people with arthritis and 29.3 percent are middle aged.
3. A large percentage of adults living with arthritis report they limit their daily activities, growing from 35.9 percent in 2002 to 42.8 percent in 2014, a 20 percent growth overall.
4. Direct medical costs attributable to people with arthritis is $81 billion per year.
5. The report showed physical activity reduced arthritis by up to 40 percent. However, the report also indicated one in three adults with arthritis are inactive.