In spite of the frequency and pain severity related to arthritis and other rheumatologic conditions (AORC), AORC account for only a small portion of hospital discharges. Visits to a physician’s office or alternative type of care account for the majority of health care related to AORC. However, among the 6.6 million hospital discharges for an AORC in 2011, 60% were women.
Women are affected by arthritis at a higher rate than are men. Three out of five persons who self-report they have been told by a doctor that they have some form of arthritis are women. Women also are 50% more likely to report they have limitations with activities of daily living because of their arthritis.
Women accounted for 55% of the 68.5 million total health care visits for back or neck pain in 2010, slightly more than the 51% of the population they represent. Total health care visits include hospital discharges, ED and outpatient clinic visits, and physician office visits. (Reference Table 9A.2 PDFCSV)
Women account for nearly two-thirds (64%) of the 528.3 million bed days reported in 2012 due to a musculoskeletal condition. A bed day is defined as one-half or more days in bed due injury or illness, excluding hospitalization. The greater number of total bed days reported by women is due to both a higher number with musculoskeletal-caused bed days, and a higher mean number of days in bed (9.9 days versus 8.2 days for men).
