New adjusted estimates for 2015 suggest that arthritis prevalence in the U.S. has been substantially underestimated, especially among adults younger than age 65 (Arthritis Foundation, n.d.). Based on adjusted estimates, 91.2 million adults either have doctor-diagnosed arthritis and/or report joint symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of arthritis (Arthritis Foundation, n.d.)

For people aged 18 to 64, about one in three people (both men and women) have doctor-diagnosed arthritis and/or report joint symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of arthritis (Arthritis Foundation, n.d.) For people over 65, the numbers are much worse: more than one in two men may have arthritis. More than two in three women may have arthritis (Arthritis Foundation, n.d.)

By conservative estimates between 2010-2012 almost 50 percent of adults 65 years or older reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis (Arthritis Foundation, n.d.) Arthritis was more common among women (26 percent) than men (19 percent) (Arthritis Foundation, n.d.)

About 4 million Hispanic adults had doctor-diagnosed arthritis. (Arthritis Foundation, n.d.) About 6 million non-Hispanic blacks had doctor-diagnosed arthritis (Arthritis Foundation, n.d.) Arthritis was more common among adults who are obesethan among those who are normal weight or underweight (Arthritis Foundation, n.d.)

By conservative estimates between 2013 – 2015 about 54.4 million adults in the U.S. (22.7 percent of all adults) had doctor-diagnosed arthritis (Arthritis Foundation, n.d.)23.7 million (43.5 percent of those with arthritis) had arthritis-attributable activity limitation (Arthritis Foundation, n.d.)There was an increase of about 20 percent in the number of adults with arthritis who reported activity limitations since 2002 (Arthritis Foundation, n.d.)

By conservative estimates by 2040 the number of U.S. adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis is projected to increase 49 percent to 78.4 million (25.9 percent of all adults) (Arthritis Foundation, n.d.). The number of adults with arthritis-attributable activity limitation will increase 52 percent to 34.6 million (11.4 percent of all adults) (Arthritis Foundation, n.d.). By conservative estimates between 2002-2014, almost two-thirds (64 percent) of adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis were younger than 65 years old (Arthritis Foundation, n.d.)

            There are also economic and health burdens. Only 7 percent of all rheumatologists practice in rural areas, where 20 percent of the population lives (Arthritis Foundation, n.d.) Severe joint pain was higher among women (29 percent) and those who had fair or poor health (49 percent), were obese (32 percent), had heart disease (34 percent), had diabetes (40.9 percent), or had serious psychological distress (56 percent) (Arthritis Foundation, n.d.)