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

NHIS Arthritis Surveillance - Text Description

**Data for Figure 1 (Projected Prevalence of Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis, US Adults Aged 18+ Years, 2005–2030)**
Year	Estimated number of adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis (in 1,000s)
	Men	Women	Total
2005	18,480	29,358	47,838
2010	20,178	31,701	51,879
2015	21,732	33,993	55,725
2020	23,164	36,244	59,409
2025	24,622	38,587	63,209
2030	26,053	40,915	66,969

Data Source: 2003–2005 National Health Interview Survey

Hootman JM, Helmick CG. Projections of U.S. prevalence of arthritis and associated activity limitations. Arthritis Rheum 2006;54(1):226–229.

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**Data for Figure 2 (Percent of Adults with Activity and Arthritis Attributable Work Limitations in 2002)**
Limitation type	Percent of Adults with Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis	Number of Adults with Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis (in Millions)
Activity limitation	40.9%	16
Work limitation	30.6%	8.3

Data Source: 2002 National Health Interview Survey

Hootman J, Bolen J, Helmick C, Langmaid G. Prevalence of doctor-diagnosed arthritis and arthritis-attributable activity limitation—United States, 2003-2005. MMWR [View the errata for this article here and here.] 2006;55(40):1089–1092. html pdf (512K)
Bolen J, Sniezek J, Theis K, Helmick CG, Hootman JM, Brady TJ et al. Racial/Ethnic differences in the prevalence and impact of doctor-diagnosed arthritis—United States, 2002. MMWR 2005;54(5):119–123. html pdf (284K)

NOTE: Arthritis-Attributable Activity Limitation = responding “yes” to “Are you now limited in any way in any of your usual activities due to arthritis or joint symptoms”; Arthritis-Attributable Work Limitation = among working age population (18–64 years), responding “yes” to being limited in the type, amount, or whether they work due to arthritis.

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**Data for Figure 3 (Number of Adults with Arthritis Reporting a Specific Functional Activity Limitation)**
Type of Functional Limitation	Number of Adults with Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis (in Millions)
Stoop/bend	7.8
Stand	7.5
Walk	6
Push	5.2
Climb	4.8
Carry	3.6
Sit	2.8
Reach	2.4
Grasp	1.9

Data Source: 2002 National Health Interview Survey

Hootman JM, Jeffrey Sacks JJ, Helmick CG. Prevalence of arthritis-attributable activity limitations among adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis, United States, 2002. Arthritis Rheum 2004;50(9, suppl):5641.

NOTE: Functional limitation defined as “very difficult” or “can not do” for the following activities: stoop, bend or kneel; stand more than 2 hours; walk ¼ mile; push a heavy object; climb a flight of stairs; lift or carry 10 pounds; sit more than 2 hours; reach above head; grasp small objects.

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**Data for Figure 4 (Body Mass Index* Categories Among Adults With and Without Arthritis in 2002)**
Body Mass Index Category	Arthritis Status
	Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis	No Arthritis
Underweight/Normal	31.2%	43.9%
Overweight	34.0%	35.1%
Obese	34.8%	21.0%

Data source: 2002 National Health Interview Survey

Felson DT, Zhang Y. An update on the epidemiology of knee and hip osteoarthritis with a view to prevention. Arthritis Rheum 1998;41(8):1343–1355.

*NOTE: Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated using the formula weight in kilograms/height in meters². Underweight/normal=BMI < 25; Overweight = BMI 25-29.99; Obese = BMI ≥ 30.

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**Data for Figure 5 (Proportion of Physically Inactive* Adults With and Without Arthritis in 2002)**
Arthritis Status	Percent of Inactive adults
Doctor-diagnosed arthritis	43.6%
No arthritis	36.4%

Data Source

Shih M, Hootman JM, Kruger J, Helmick CG. Physical activity in men and women with arthritis, National Health Interview Survey, 2002. Am J Prev Med 2006;30(5):385-93.

*NOTE: Inactive = no reported leisure-time physical activity.

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Page last reviewed: October 15, 2008
Page last modified: June 13, 2007
Content Source: Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

United States Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion