It's World Arthritis Day today. Even if it doesn't affect you, it probably does affect someone you know. Get a quick round-up here.

• Arthritis literally means ‘joint inflammation’^3a
• There are over 100 different forms of arthritis^3b
• As many as 1.5 million South Africans could be living with arthritis⁴
• Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States^1d
• Arthritis costs the United States economy around $128 billion per year^1a
• An estimated 50 million adult Americans report having some form of arthritis^1b
• One in five (22%) adults in the United States report having doctor diagnosed arthritis^1b
• Arthritis is more common in women (24.9%) than men (18.1%)^3c
• Over 10 million adults in the UK consult their GP with arthritis and related conditions each year^2b
• More than 6 million people in the UK have osteoarthritis in one or both knees^2a
• Girls are twice as likely to develop juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) as boys^3c

Arthritis: the myths⁴

• There is only one type of arthritis
• Only ‘old people’ develop arthritis
• Children do not suffer from arthritis
• Diet can prevent or treat your arthritis (it can only indirectly help)
• Disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) ‘poison the body’ 

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): 5 facts you should know

1. RA affects up to 1% of the population¹⁰ (approx. 500 000 South Africans)
2. RA affects over three times as many women as men¹⁰
3. The incidence of RA in women has risen since 1995⁹
4. An RA sufferer is twice as likely to die as a non-RA sufferer of the same age¹²
5. Up to 40% of working people with RA lose their jobs within 5 years¹³

Osteoarthritis (OA): 5 facts you should know

• Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis^11a
• 50% of all adults will develop symptomatic OA of the knee at some point in their lives^11b
• Osteoarthritis is not an ‘old person’s disease’^11c
• 94% of hip and 97% of knee replacements carried out in the UK are due to osteoarthritis^2c
• 60% of hip and 57% of knee replacement operations in the UK are performed on women^2d

Arthritis and diet:¹⁴

References:

• Acidic foods, such as tomatoes, do not cause arthritis
• Antioxidants, such as vitamin E, are effective in reducing pain and inflammation
• Omega 3 fatty acids also produce an anti-inflammatory process in the body
• Low fat and fat-free diets reduce antioxidant levels, which can aggravate rheumatoid arthritis
• Prolonged consumption of Omega 6 fatty acids may lead to arthritic flare ups
• Weight loss, if overweight or obese, can also reduce joint inflammation and arthritic flare ups
• Arthritis sufferers should eat a balanced diet, high in omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidants and with sufficient lean dairy and protein.

(Picture: Woman with joint pain from Shutterstock)

1.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Prevalence of Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis and Arthritis-Attributable Activity Limitation — United States, 2007–2009. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). 8 October 2010.

2. Arthritis Research UK. Arthritis in the UK — key facts. November 2008.

3. Arthritis Foundation. 10 Facts About Arthritis. 2012. Available at: http://www.arthritis.org/10-facts-about-arthritis.php Last accessed: 26-09-2012

4. du Plooy, M. Data on file — supplied in response to interview questions. 26-09-2012.

                9. Myasoedova E, Crowson C et al. Is the Incidence of Rheumatoid Arthritis Rising? ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM

                Vol. 62, No. 6, June 2010, pp 1576–1582

                10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Rheumatoid Arthritis. Available at:

                 http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/about.htm. Last accessed: 17-05-2012

                11. Arthritis Foundation. Osteoarthritis Fact Sheet. 2009.

                12. Arthritis Foundation. Rheumatoid Arthritis Fact Sheet. 2008.

                13. Arthritis Research UK. Arthritis in the UK — key facts. November 2008.

                14. Retief, I. Data on file — supplied in response to interview questions. 20-09-2012.