ESTIMATES OF THE PREVALENCE OF ARTHRITIS AND SELECTED MUSCULOSKELETALDISORDERS IN THE UNITED-STATES

Objective. To provide a single source for the best available estimates of the national prevalence of arthritis in general and of selected mu sculoskeletal disorders (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenil e rheumatoid arthritis, the spondylarthropathies, systemic lupus eryth ematosus, scleroderma, polymyalgia rheumatica/giant cell arteritis, go ut, fibromyalgia, and low back pain), Methods. The National Arthritis Data Workgroup reviewed data from available surveys, such as the Natio nal Health and Nutrition Examination Survey series, For overall nation al estimates, we used surveys based on representative samples, Because data based on national population samples are unavailable for most sp ecific musculoskeletal conditions, we derived data from various smalle r survey samples from defined populations. Prevalence estimates from t hese surveys were linked to 1990 US Bureau of the Census population da ta to calculate national estimates. We also estimated the expected fre quency of arthritis in the year 2020, Results, Current national estima tes are provided, with important caveats regarding their interpretatio n, for self-reported arthritis and selected conditions. An estimated 1 5% (40 million) of Americans had some form of arthritis in 1995, By th e year 2020, an estimated 18.2% (59.4 million) will be affected, Concl usion. Given the limitations of the data on which they are based, this report provides the best available prevalence estimates for arthritis and other rheumatic conditions overall, and for selected musculoskele tal disorders, in the US population.