Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion
Arthritis
Background
Arthritis and related conditions refer to not just one disease, but more than 100 different diseases that affect the joints and other parts of the body. Arthritis causes pain, stiffness, and in some cases swelling in or around the joints. In addition, arthritis is the leading cause of disability, limiting daily activities for more than 7 million citizens.
Mission
The mission of Arthritis Surveillance is to describe populations most affected by arthritis and related conditions in Georgia and to develop programs to better treat and prevent the disease.
Major Focus Areas
A unique partnership currently exists between the Georgia Department of Public Health, the
Georgia Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation and Atlanta Regional Commission (Metro Atlanta’s Area Agency On Aging). This partnership exists to expand evidence based interventions for those living with arthritis and other chronic diseases.
Georgia continues to focus on program implementation, awareness and access to evidence based initiative components of the
Georgia Arthritis Report 2006. This report is now available.
Highlights from this report include:
- 34% of adult Georgians-about 1.8 million people-have arthritis
- 68% do not know the type of their condition
- 77% are not currently under a physician's care for arthritis
- 55% are younger than 55 years old
- Arthritis is more common in whites (27 %) than blacks (25%), than Hispanics (11%)
- Arthritis is more common in women (29%) than men (22%)
- People with arthritis are more likely to report days of poor physical health and/or mental health when compared to others
- People with arthritis are four times more likely to be unable to work than others
- People with arthritis report being inactive and being overweight more than others.
Co-morbidity
Adults with arthritis are more likely to have other chronic diseases or modifiable risk factors.*
- 3 in 4 adults with doctor–diagnosed arthritis reported having other chronic disease of modifiable risk factors.*
- 1 in 3 adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis reported having high blood pressure; 1 in 3 adults with doctor diagnosed arthritis report having high cholesterol.
- 1 in 8 adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis report having diabetes.
- 1 in 20 adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis reported have angina or coronary heart disease.
- High cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, asthma, diabetes, heart attack, angina/coronary heart disease, and stroke
If you would like to obtain a copy of this report, please contact the Georgia Chapter, Arthritis Foundation at 404-237-8771.
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