Fast facts

What does arthritis look like in Australia?  We’ve put some infographics together to help show just how huge of an impact arthritis is:

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• 3.9 million Australians have arthritis. That’s 1 in 6 people.
• By 2030, it is projected there will be 5.4 million Australians with arthritis.
• Around 2 million people with arthritis are of working age (15-64 years)
• Arthritis cost the health system $5.5 billion in 2015. This will rise to $7.6 billion by 2030.
• Arthritis accounts for 8% of the total burden of disease and injury in Australia
• Children get arthritis too
• Arthritis is the leading cause of chronic pain and the second most common cause of disability and early retirement due to ill health in Australia.
• 52,000 people (aged 15-64 years) unable to work due to arthritis
• Extra welfare costs and lost tax revenue due to early retirement due to arthritis cost $1.1 billion in 2015
• There are more than 100 different types of arthritis
• Most forms of arthritis are thought to be auto-immune conditions, where the body’s immune system attacks its own joint tissues
• Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout are 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.

Sources:
1, 2: Ackerman IN, Bohensky MA, Pratt C, Gorelik A, Liew D, 2016. Counting the Cost: the current and future burden of arthritis. Part 1 Healthcare Costs. Arthritis Australia 2016. 3: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2009. Chronic disease and participation in work. Cat. No. PHE 109. Canberra: AIHW. 4: Refer Arthritis Australia’s website / Reports: Painful realities – The economic impact of arthritis in Australia, 2007 (Report by Access Economics Pty Ltd for Arthritis Australia, 31 July 2007).