The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new arthritis prevalence estimates in the January 2006 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.

The prevalence of doctor-diagnosed arthritis is projected to increase from the current 46 million to nearly 67 million (25 percent of the adult population) by the year 2030. Of those 67 million, 25 million are projected to report arthritis-related activity limitation.

In 2030, more than half of the people with arthritis will be older than age 65. Almost one-third of all cases will be in working-age adults, those 45 to 64 years old.This large increase poses a major challenge to the health care and public health systems. This burden can be reduced by increasing the availability of current interventions aimed at prevention and improving quality of life through lifestyle changes and disease self-management.

Programs, such as the Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program, Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, and Arthritis Foundation Self-Help Program are available throughout the country to help people with arthritis, or those at risk of developing arthritis, to take control.