• nearly one in five Australians has arthritis. • today arthritis impacts directly on more than 3.85 million people, or 18.5 per cent of the population…and indirectly on their businesses, colleagues, friends and family • by 2050, it is projected there will be 7 million Australians with arthritis. • it costs the economy about $23.9 billion a year. Emotionally and socially, the hidden costs of arthritis are immeasurable. • arthritis is Australia’s major cause of disability and pain • it's wrong to think arthritis is just an inevitable part of getting older; it isn't! • most people diagnosed with arthritis are of working age • children get arthritis too • arthritis was declared a National Health Priority in 2002 • there are more than 100 different types of arthritis • most forms of arthritis are thought to be a reaction of the body against its own joint tissues • osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout and lupus are some of the most common forms of arthritis • we do know you've got to move it or lose it; rest can make pain and other symptoms much worse • there's no cure…yet • but there's a lot that can be done • and with your help we can make life for people with arthritis a whole lot better!
• Osteoarthritis - 1 in 10 • Rheumatoid arthritis - 1 in 100 • Gout - 1 in 100 • Ankylosing Spondylitis - 1 in 200 • Juvenile arthritis - 1 in 1000 • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (lupus) - 1 in 1000 • Scleroderma - 1 in 10,000
Source: March, L (2006). Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions: The clinicians’ perspective, Australia’s Health 2006, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare