Trivia: Arthritis

Approximately 350 million people worldwide have arthritis. The word "arthritis" actually refers to a group of more than 100 types of rheumatic disease, and the two most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis, caused by the breakdown of a joint's cartilage, affects approximately 27 million Americans and 3 million Canadians. Usually osteoarthritis comes with age (usually 45+), but it may also follow an injury to a joint. Men and women are affected equally. Depending on the individual, treatment may include physical measures like thermal therapies, drug therapy (e.g., pain relief drugs or joint injections), and perhaps even surgery (e.g., joint replacement).

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects approximately 1.3 million Americans and 300,000 Canadians. It is an autoimmune disease, and it affects women two to three times more often than men. Most people develop RA between the ages of 25 to 30 and 50. Treatments are geared at minimizing symptoms and disability, and may include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and/or biologic response modifiers.

Some other more common types of arthritis and related conditions include:

Condition: Fibromyalgia – Though an arthritis-related condition, fibromyalgia is not truly a form of arthritis, because it does not cause inflammation or damage to the joints, muscles, or other tissues.

Numbers: Women are at least four times more likely to develop fibromyalgia. In the United States, it is estimated to affect 3% to 5% of adult women and about 0.5% of adult men. Approximately 1 in 300 Canadians is affected.

Treatment: Treatment is geared at symptom relief, and may include pain relievers, NSAIDs, antidepressants, muscle relaxants, exercise/stretching regimens, etc.

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Condition: Gout – This occurs when uric acid builds up in joints and tissues. It occurs most often in the feet, particularly in the joint of the big toe. Gout is strongly associated with obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes.

Numbers: Gout affects about 2.1 million Americans, with men in their 40s and 50s being most likely to develop it. Approximately 1 in 30 Canadians is affected.

Treatment: Treatment may include drugs like colchicine or NSAIDs, corticosteroids, and dietary changes.

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Condition: Pseudogout – This type of arthritis can cause symptoms similar to gout, and results from a buildup of calcium crystals in a joint.

Numbers: Buildup of calcium crystals is seen in about 3% of people in their 60s and as many as 50% of people in their 90s.

Treatment: Treatment may include drugs NSAIDS or colchicine, or corticosteroids. Eventually, surgery to repair or replace damaged joints may be recommended.

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Condition: Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis – Also known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, chronic childhood arthritis, or juvenile arthritis, this disease has three main varieties: pauciarticular (which affects four or fewer joints), polyarticular (which affects five or more joints), and systemic onset (which affects at least one joint but causes inflammation of internal organs as well).

Numbers: The disease affects 300,000 American children and 1 in 250 Canadian children.

Treatment: Treatment aims to control symptoms, prevent joint damage and maintain function, and may include NSAIDs, DMARDs, anti-TNF agents, or steroids.

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Condition: Lupus (Systemic lupus erythematosus) – Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects the joints, kidneys, and skin, and can be fatal. Its cause is unknown, and as explained on the American College of Rheumatology website, "Some call it the 'great imitator,' because its symptoms vary so widely that it is often mistaken for other disorders."

Numbers: The Lupus Foundation of America estimates between 1.5 and 2 million Americans have a form of lupus, but the actual number may be higher. More than 90% of people with lupus are women. Lupus is more common in some ethnic groups, particularly in blacks and Asians, and these individuals also tend to be more severely affected. Lupus Canada estimates that more than 50,000 Canadians suffer from lupus.

Treatment: Treatment depends on an individual's symptoms and their symptoms' severity, and may involve NSAIDs, corticosteroids, immunosuppressive drugs, antimalarials, and more. Keeping active by engaging in light to moderate exercise will usually help with joint flexibility.

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And now for one more that may be relevant as warm weather approaches …

Condition: Lyme Disease – This disease is caused by the bite of a tick carrying the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. In its early stages, the disease causes a skin rash, and in its later stages, it causes infection in joints, nervous system, and other organs. If not treated early, individuals are more likely to experience symptoms such as fatigue, poor sleep, and muscle and joint pain. Lyme arthritis (a late stage symptom) causes swelling of one or both knees and, less often, can affect other, predominantly large, joints of the body.

Numbers: Exact numbers are unknown, but those who spend their time outdoors in affected wooded areas are obviously more at risk. Infections follow the tick's lifecycle/feeding periods, and peak in late spring, early summer, and the fall.

Treatment: Early treatment includes oral antibiotics, but if the nervous system or heart is involved, IV antibiotics may be needed.

For more information see:

• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) page on Arthritis

• American College of Rheumatology

• The CDC's Arthritis page

• The Arthritis Foundation (US)

• The Arthritis Society (Canada)

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