Physical Inactivit /Obesity Raises Arthritis Risk

According to a study by researchers from the Toronto Western Research Institute, there is a higher prevalence of arthritis and arthritis-attributable activity limitations (AAL) in the US population as compared to the Canadian population. The authors of the study attribute the higher prevalence of arthritis and AAL to a greater level of obesity and physical inactivity in Americans, especially in women. The findings of the study are published in the March issue of Arthritis Care & Research.¹

Arthritis is the leading cause of physical disability in North America, and is one of the most frequently reported chronic conditions in both the US and Canada. The large percentage of the population that is now in mid to late life is particularly vulnerable to the disabling effects of arthritis. In 2005 the National Arthritis Data Workgroup released that more than 21% of American adults (46 million) suffer from arthritis or another rheumatic condition, and over 60% of arthritis patients are women. The 2008 Canadian Community Health Survey reported 15.3% (4.3 million) of Canadians have some form of arthritis, with more women then men affected.

This study is the first to provide a direct comparison of US and Canadian data in search of disparities between the two countries associated with the prevalence of arthritis and AAL. The study authors analyzed results from the Joint Canada/United States Survey of Health (JCUSH) conducted in cooperation by Statistics Canada and the US National Center for Health Statistics during 2002-2003. Data was obtained for 3,505 Canadians and 5,183 Americans with an overall response rate of 65.5% and 50.2%, respectively.

Results show that in the US, the prevalence of arthritis was 18.7% and AAL was 9.6%, while equivalent estimates in Canada were 16.8% and 7.7%, respectively. Researchers noted that arthritis prevalence was higher in American women at 23.3% compared with 19.6% of Canadian women. Women in the US also had a higher prevalence of AAL than Canadian women at 13.0% versus 9.2%. The overall occurrence of arthritis and AAL in men was similar in both countries at roughly 14% and 6%, respectively.

“Our study results suggest that the higher prevalence of arthritis and AAL in the US may be a consequence of greater obesity and physical inactivity in that country, particularly in women,” noted Dr. Elizabeth Badley, one of the lead researchers. “Public health initiatives that promote healthy weight and physical activity may benefit from including arthritis concerns to its message, and could potentially reduce the incidence of arthritis and AAL,” concluded Dr. Badley.

Reference

1. Badley, Elizabeth and Ansari, Hina. “Arthritis and Arthritis-Attributable Activity Limitations in the United States and Canada: A Cross-Border Comparison.” Arthritis Care and Research. Published Online: February 25, 2010; Print Issue Date: March 2010.

http://www.mskreport.com/articles.cfm?articleID=3477

Physical Inactivit /Obesity Raises Arthritis Risk | Arthritis Information