National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Division of Adult and Community Health
Health Care and Aging Studies Branch

Arthritis Program
Mailstop K-51
4770 Buford Highway NE
Atlanta, GA 30341-3724
Phone: 770.488.5464
Fax: 770.488.5964
Email Us

Data and Statistics

Data and Statistics

National Statistics

State Statistics

Arthritis Related Statistics

Cost Statistics

Racial/Ethnic Differences

Arthritis Types — Overview

See Also:

Quick Stats

Schedule of Surveillance Products

BRFSS Arthritis Questions 1996-2009

Overview of Arthritis Surveillance

FAQs (Data Related)

State Surveillance Recommendations

Arthritis Case Definition (Adult)

Pediatric Case Definition

Racial/Ethnic Differences

Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Prevalence and Impact of Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis— United States, 2002

The following estimates are from our most recent, published analysis of racial/ethnic differences using 2002 data. Among those with doctor-diagnosed arthritis in 2002, more than a third (16 million) had arthritis-attributable activity limitations and nearly a third (8.2 million) of working-age adults with arthritis had arthritis-attributable work limitations. Compared with non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks had a similar population prevalence of doctor-diagnosed arthritis but those with arthritis had higher age-adjusted proportion of arthritis-attributable activity limitation (44% vs. 34%), work limitation (39% vs. 28%), and severe joint pain (34% vs. 23%). Hispanics had lower population prevalence of arthritis, but those with arthritis had a higher age-adjusted proportion of arthritis-attributable work limitation (39% vs. 28%) and severe joint pain (33% vs. 23%).

Physical activity, weight reduction, and arthritis self-management can reduce the disabling effects of arthritis. Existing programs should be made more available and accessible to all people with arthritis, and especially to black and Hispanic populations with arthritis, who are more likely to suffer the disabling effects of arthritis.

In summary, arthritis is a frequent problem with a large impact on all racial/ethnic groups, but the disabling effects of arthritis (arthritis-attributable activity limitations, work limitations, and severe pain) affect racial/ethnic minorities more severely.