The number of U.S. adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis has been projected to reach nearly 67 million adults by the year 2030

According to the Centers for Disease Control, Arthritis and other rheumatic conditions (e.g., gout, lupus, and fibromyalgia) affect approximately 46 million adults in the United States, resulting in substantial disability and costs of $128 billion annually. Because U.S. adults are living longer and the number of persons in older age groups is growing, the number of U.S. adults living with chronic conditions such as arthritis likely will increase.

The number of U.S. adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis has been projected to reach nearly 67 million adults by the year 2030, including 25 million adults who are expected to have arthritis-attributable activity limitations. Greater use of existing evidence-based interventions and development of new interventions aimed at decreasing pain, improving function, and delaying disability associated with arthritis are needed to reduce the impact of these projected increases, particularly in those states that will be most heavily affected.

CDC's Arthritis Program funds 36 state health departments, who collaborate with local chapters of the Arthritis Foundation to expand the reach of evidence-based public health interventions for arthritis. These include physical activity programs (Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, Arthritis Foundation Aquatics Program, and Enhance Fitness) and self-management education programs (Arthritis Foundation Self-Help Program and Chronic Disease Self-Management Program), both of which are delivered by trained instructors in community settings. In addition, the CDC Arthritis Program also has developed two communication campaigns to promote physical activity among persons with arthritis. CDC is funding a project to develop a new arthritis-specific exercise program that emphasizes joint-protection strategies and components designed to improve physical function.

Steve - is something missing here? Diet-related pain is once again ignored. We sound like a broken record, but until the diet/pain connection is given as much or more attention than physical activity, we are going to conitnue to harp on this.

67 million people by 2030 with arthritis! That will be one-fifth of the population. With positive nationwide dietary changes, this number could be greatly reduced.