Arthritis is one of the most common chronic conditions found in the US population. It currently affects 46 million US adults and is projected to increase 45% by 2030. It is the most common cause of disability in the United States, substantially affecting a person’s quality of life due to pain causing work and activity limitations, which subsequently affects the economy.
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 [1] CSV [2])
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 [1] CSV [2])
In spite of the frequency and severe pain often experienced with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions, these illnesses account for only a small portion of hospital discharges. Visits to a physician’s office or alternative types of care account for the majority of health care related to AORC, with more than 100 million ambulatory visits in 2010. Among the 6.6 million hospital discharges for an AORC in 2011, age was a factor in increasing rates of hospitalization. Fewer than 1 in 100 persons ages 18 to 44 years had a hospital discharge with a diagnosis of an AORC, while 13 in 100 aged 75 years and older were discharged with an AORC diagnosis.
Osteoarthritis is the primary form of arthritis to affect older persons, and begins to show increasing rates for people in their 60s. By the age of 75 years, multiple forms of arthritis are often diagnosed and categorized as other rheumatic conditions. (Reference Table 9B.4.2 PDF [3] CSV [4])
Age is not a factor in the length of hospital stay or mean charges with a diagnosis of an AORC. In general, the type of AORC is also not a factor in length of stay or charges, with the exception of a diagnosis of spondylarthropathy, which results in slightly higher mean hospital charges. Hospital charges are a rough estimate of hospital cost, and do not include doctor’s fees. (Reference Table 9B.4.2 PDF [3] CSV [4])
Discharge from a hospital to short- or long-term care is a major healthcare cost. The frequency of this increases significantly with age, and is more likely to occur with an AORC diagnosis than for all causes of hospitalization. One in eight people age 45 to 64 years discharged from a hospital with a diagnosis of an AORC is sent to intermediate-term or skilled nursing care. This increases to one in four for persons aged 65 to 74 years, and two in five for ages 75 years and older. The most likely AORC to result in nursing care is a soft tissue disorder, but all causes of AORC result in nursing home care for 35% or more of discharges among patients aged 75 years and older. (Reference Table 9B.4.3 PDF [5] CSV [6])
Links:
[1] https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/T9B.4.1.pdf
[2] https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/T9B.4.1.csv
[3] https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/T9B.4.2.pdf
[4] https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/T9B.4.2.csv
[5] https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/T9B.4.3.pdf
[6] https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/T9B.4.3.csv