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Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the U.S. with about 54.4 million people receiving treatment. The number might be higher, taken into consideration that there are people who have not yet been diagnosed, since diagnosis can take a long time.
Prevalence of osteoarthritis in the US
The age-group 45-64 holds the highest prevalence of osteoarthritis in the US. In general women tend to be more affected by osteoarthritis than men and in this age group and overall, it is estimated that 38.2 million women and 25.7 million men have received treatment. The oldest age-group, +75, is estimated to have 18.4 million people with osteoarthritis.
Approximately 10% of the 54.4 million patients have osteoarthritis in their hip and nearly 2 million people in the U.S. over the age of 45 have received treatment for osteoarthritis in the knee.
Arthritis is the nation’s No. 1 cause of disability. Unfortunately the disability rate for osteoarthritis has been rising and from 1990 to 2010 it rose by 16 %. In the U.S. alone, osteoarthritis is the highest cause of work loss and affects more than 20 million individuals, costing the U.S. economy more than $100 billion annually. The numbers are estimated to continue rising, since we are facing a time where the U.S. population of the elderly and obese is rising, creating a breeding ground for osteoarthritis.
Source: Arthritis Foundation
Last updated: 10/6/19
