Cost Statistics

National and state cost estimates

• The total costs attributable to arthritis and other rheumatic conditions (AORC) in the United States in 2003 was approximately $128 billion. This equaled 1.2% of the 2003 U.S. gross domestic product.
   
  • $80.8 billion were direct costs (i.e., medical expenditures)
  • $47.0 billion were indirect costs (i.e., lost earnings)
     
• Total costs attributable to AORC, by state, ranged from $226 million in the District of Columbia to $12.1 billion in California.
   
• National medical costs attributable to AORC grew by 24% between 1997 and 2003. This rise in medical costs resulted from an increase in the number of people with AORC.
   
• In 2003, costs attributable to AORC represented between 0.3 to 2.6% of each state’s GDP. For example: in 2003, the costs attributable to AORC in West Virginia were $1.2 billion and this represented 2.6% of West Virginia’s GDP.

Study reports

National and state direct and indirect costs are presented in the January 12, 2007 MMWR entitled: National and State Medical Expenditures and Lost Earnings Attributable to Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Conditions — United States, 2003.

A detailed report on the national cost study, including the study methods and comparisons of 1997 and 2003 costs, was published in:

Yelin E, Murphy L, Cisternas M, Foreman A, Pasta D, Helmick C. Medical Care Expenditures and Earnings Losses Among Persons with Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Conditions in 2003, and Comparisons to 1997. Arthritis and Rheumatism 2007;56(5):1397-1407.

State-Specific Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

 

The table below shows the total costs* (in millions of dollars) attributable to arthritis and other rheumatic conditions for each state in 2003.

Total Costs* (in millions) attributable to Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Conditions, By State, United States, 2003
$225 million to $574 million		$650 million to $1.6 billion		$1.9 billion to $2.9 billion		$3.2 billion to $12.1 billion
District of Columbia	226	Nebraska	757	Colorado	1,920	Indiana	3,181
Wyoming	243	New Mexico	770	Louisiana	2,036	Tennessee	3,271
Alaska	275	Utah	820	South Carolina	2,133	Virginia	3,466
North Dakota	285	Nevada	1,022	Minnesota	2,172	New Jersey	3,544
Vermont	290	Kansas	1,106	Arizona	2,343	Georgia	3,911
South Dakota	351	West Virginia	1,188	Kentucky	2,426	North Carolina	4,112
Delaware	363	Iowa	1,250	Wisconsin	2,445	Michigan	5,557
Hawaii	375	Arkansas	1,441	Maryland	2,479	Ohio	5,745
Montana	396	Connecticut	1,443	Alabama	2,597	Pennsylvania	6,578
Rhode Island	511	Mississippi	1,495	Illinois	2,670	Florida	7,624
Idaho	564	Oregon	1,609	Massachusetts	2,734	Texas	8,706
New Hampshire	574	Oklahoma	1,628	Washington	2,787	New York	8,726
Maine	648			Missouri	2,874	California	12,137

* Total costs = medical expenditures + lost earnings