Arthritis and other rheumatic conditions (AORC) affect people in higher numbers as they age. Only 7 in 100 persons between the ages of 18 and 44 years report they have doctor-diagnosed arthritis. By the age of 65 years and older, this rate has increased to one in two with some form of arthritis. Although the rates of persons reporting limitations in performing activities of daily living are lower, there is a large disparity between younger persons and the aging. (Reference Table 9B.4.1 PDF CSV)

Bed days occur when a person spends at least one-half day in bed in the previous 12 months due to a health condition. In 2012, 537.6 million bed days were reported by persons age 18 years and older due to arthritis. Only 4% of people aged 18 to 44 years reported arthritis-caused bed days. For all people aged 45 years and older, the rate was between 14% and 16%.

Arthritis is most likely to be the cause of lost work days among people between the ages of 45 and 64 years, with nearly 1 in 10 reporting work days lost. In 2012, 172.1 million work days were reported lost due to arthritis, with 65% lost by people in the 45- to 64-year age group. Likely, this higher share of lost work days for this group is due to the much higher participation in the workforce for this prime working age cohort. (Reference Table 9B.4.1 PDF CSV)