Racial/Ethnic Differences

Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Prevalence and Impact of Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis— United States, 2002

The following estimates are from our most recent, published analysis of racial/ethnic differences using 2002 data. Among those with doctor-diagnosed arthritis in 2002, more than a third (16 million) had arthritis-attributable activity limitations and nearly a third (8.2 million) of working-age adults with arthritis had arthritis-attributable work limitations. Compared with non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks had a similar population prevalence of doctor-diagnosed arthritis but those with arthritis had higher age-adjusted proportion of arthritis-attributable activity limitation (44% vs. 34%), work limitation (39% vs. 28%), and severe joint pain (34% vs. 23%). Hispanics had lower population prevalence of arthritis, but those with arthritis had a higher age-adjusted proportion of arthritis-attributable work limitation (39% vs. 28%) and severe joint pain (33% vs. 23%).

Physical activity, weight reduction, and arthritis self-management can reduce the disabling effects of arthritis. Existing programs should be made more available and accessible to all people with arthritis, and especially to black and Hispanic populations with arthritis, who are more likely to suffer the disabling effects of arthritis.

In summary, arthritis is a frequent problem with a large impact on all racial/ethnic groups, but the disabling effects of arthritis (arthritis-attributable activity limitations, work limitations, and severe pain) affect racial/ethnic minorities more severely.

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