Arthritis

The term arthritis is used to describe more than 100 conditions that affect joints, the tissues which surround joints, and other connective tissue. These conditions range from relatively mild forms of tendonitis and bursitis to systemic illnesses, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Certain conditions with arthritic components, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, also involve the immune system and various internal organs. Typically, arthritis conditions are characterized by pain and stiffness in and around one or more joints. However, the pattern, severity and location of symptoms vary depending on the specific form of the disease. Symptoms can develop gradually or suddenly.

Arthritis affects an estimated 4.2 million Canadians of all ages, with numbers expected to increase by 50% by 2020. Although arthritis is most prevalent among seniors, it is not confined to the elderly population and many are affected in the prime of their lives. There is no known cure for arthritis, but improvements in our understanding of the different conditions continue to lead to better medications and treatments for the disease.

Most common types of arthritis

Risk Factors

Each form of arthritis has its own particular risk factors. Some of the most common risk factors for the development of arthritis include:

Non-modifiable risk factors

• Age: The risk of developing most types of arthritis increases with age.
• Gender: Most types of arthritis are more common in women; an estimated 62% of all people with arthritis are women. Gout is more common in men.
• Genetic: Specific genes are associated with a higher risk of certain types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and ankylosing spondylitis.

Modifiable risk factors

• Overweight and Obesity: Excess weight can contribute to both the onset and progression of knee and hip osteoarthritis.
• Joint Injuries: Damage to a joint can contribute to the development of osteoarthritis in that joint.
• Infection: Many microbial agents can infect joints and potentially cause the development of various forms of arthritis.
• Occupation: Certain occupations involving repetitive knee bending and squatting are associated with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Minimizing the Risk of Arthritis

Managing Arthritis

Although there is no known cure for arthritis, much can be done to reduce the impact of the disease. Early diagnosis and appropriate management of arthritis, including self-management activities, can help people with arthritis decrease pain, improve function, stay productive, and lower health care costs. Key self-management activities include the following:

• Being active: research has shown that appropriate physical activity decreases pain, improves function, and delays disability.
• Learning techniques to reduce pain and limitations can be beneficial to people with arthritis. Self-management education is available through the Arthritis Society's Arthritis Self-Management Program or the Chronic Pain Management Workshop to help those who have arthritis develop the skills and confidence to manage their disease.
  • Arthritis Self-Management Program - The Arthritis Society
  • Chronic Pain Management Workshop - The Arthritis Society
• Maintaining a healthy weight: Research suggests that maintaining a healthy weight may decrease the impact of arthritis pain and disability.
• Seeing a doctor: although there is no cure for most types of arthritis, early diagnosis and appropriate management are important, especially for inflammatory types of arthritis. For example, early use of disease-modifying drugs can affect the course of rheumatoid arthritis. For those experiencing the symptoms of arthritis, seeing a doctor and beginning appropriate management of the condition is essential.

Facts & Figures

According to the 2007 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), there are approximately 4.2 million Canadians living with arthritis. An estimated 62% of those living with arthritis are women and 3 out of 5 are younger than 65 years of age. Arthritis is one of the most common causes of physical disability (pain, activity limitation) among Canadians. Arthritis-related pain and disability affect many aspects of life including daily activities, leisure, labour force participation, and social activities. Arthritis carried an economic burden estimated at $4.4 billion in 1998 (Economic Burden of Illness in Canada, 1998).

More Facts & Figures

• Chronic Disease Infobase

Knowledge Development and Exchange

• Arthritis Publications
• Arthritis Clinical Practice Guidelines
• Canadian Best Practices Portal
• Chronic Diseases in Canada (CDIC)

Chronic Disease Science and Research

• Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program CPS news: Study to improve understanding of juvenile arthritis in Canada.
• Power JD, Perruccio AV, Desmeules M, Lagacé C, Badley EM. Ambulatory physician care for musculoskeletal disorders in Canada . J Rheumatol. 2006 Jan;33(1):133-9

Initiatives, Strategies, Systems and Programs

Arthritis Surveillance Program

The Arthritis Surveillance Program produces surveillance information and reports on arthritis in Canada. The Public Health Agency of Canada uses available databases that enable the tracking of arthritis and its impact on the Canadian population. Examples of such databases are: the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), the Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), the Canadian Joint Replacement Registry (CJRR), the Canadian Annual Mortality data, and the Participation and Activity Limitations Survey (PALS).

PHAC also collaborates with Provincial/Territorial partners to track arthritis in the population using provincial/territorial physician billing data. The Agency also has a number of projects that will contribute to enhance the existing data sources and develop new ones for the surveillance of arthritis.

Addressing the burden of arthritis requires coordinated and collaborative efforts among many organizations, such as governmental and public health agencies, not for profit organizations such as the Alliance for the Canadian Arthritis Programs (ACAP), Provincial and Territorial partners, academic researchers and health care professionals, and more importantly, people living with arthritis. These types of partnerships help to assure the needed comprehensive approach to arthritis.

Links

• Arthritis Links