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US Pharm.
2007;32(5):16.
Arthritis
and other rheumatic conditions are among the most common chronic diseases and
represent the leading cause of disability among adults. The prevalence of
arthritis increases with age, impacting 60% of the population ages 65 and
older. Due to improved identification and treatment of chronic diseases and
the lower mortality rate from infectious diseases, adults in the United States
are living longer and the population is aging. As a result, the number of
people living with nonfatal but disabling conditions, such as arthritis or
chronic joint symptoms (CJS), is likely to increase. To estimate the projected
future burden of arthritis or CJS among persons ages 65 and older, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) applied data from the 2001 Behavioral
Risk Factor Surveillance System to projected national population data for the
time period of 2005 to 2030. According to this report, if arthritis prevalence
rates remain stable, the number of affected persons ages 65 and older will
nearly double by 2030.
In 2001, 51.6% of males and 63.9% of
females ages 65 and older were suffering from arthritis or CJS. From 2005 to
2030, the percentage of the U.S. population ages 65 and older is expected to
increase from 12.9% to 20%. If sex-specific prevalence rates remain the same,
the number of people projected to experience arthritis or CJS will nearly
double, from 21.4 million in 2005 to 41.1 million in 2030. The rate of persons
ages 65 and older to suffer from arthritis or CJS is estimated to have a
median prevalence rate of 56.5%, with a range from 34.8% to 70.3% and a mean
of 60%. Thus, in regard to the aging population, arthritis could substantially
contribute to disability, poor health-related quality of life, and increased
direct and indirect medical costs.
Proven public interventions
should continue to be applied, and new interventions are being developed to
improve function, decrease pain, and delay disability among individuals with
arthritis. To maximize the benefit of these interventions and to decrease the
impact of arthritis on society, programmatic interventions should be targeted
specifically to those at highest risk for functional impairment and
disability. Examples of such interventions include the Arthritis Foundation's
PACE (People with Arthritis Can Exercise) programs, as well as self-management
education provided by numerous health care providers and other allied health
professionals to noninstitutionalized persons. The CDC Web site provides
information on government-funded programs.
To comment on this article, contact
editor@uspharmacist.com.
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