Exploding Arthritis: A great Risk for Children As Well As the Aging Population
Arthritis is exploding in an aging population around the world and is projected to increase by 40% in the next two decades, according to a new study released by t he Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the National Arthritis Workgroup. The report reaffirms that nearly one in five U.S. adults, almost 46 million people, have arthritis and an estimated 67 million people will be affected by 2030.
Findings of this study, published in the January issue of” Arthritis and Rheumatism”, found that osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, has increased to 27 million people, up from 1990 estimates of 21 million. Other key findings include an increase in gout in almost 3 million adults, up from 2.1 million and a decrease in rheumatoid arthritis that came down from 2.1 million adults to 1.3 million. The study also estimates that 294,000 U.S. children and teenagers under age 18 have been diagnosed with arthritis or another rheumatologic condition.