Baby boomers face rise in arthritis

Arthritis is increasing in an aging population of American baby boomers and is projected to increase by 40 percent in the next two decades, according to a new study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the National Arthritis Data Workgroup.

The report states that nearly one in five American adults- 46 million- have arthritis and an estimated 67 million will be affected by 2030.

The study also estimates that 294,000 American children and teenagers under age 18 have been diagnosed with arthritis or other rheumatological condition.

The news isn't good for the nation's baby boomers or the economy. Already the most common cause of disability in the U.S., arthritis limits activity for 19 million of the 46 million adults with the disease. It also exacts a financial toll on the country- $128 billion annually.

"Even as the number of people with arthritis rises, the level of federal funding for arthritis research has declined in today's dollar, and intervention programs that could limit the impacts are being underutilized," said John H. Klippel, MD., president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation. "We must reverse this trend to avoid a potential public health crisis."

The Arthritis Foundation urges the public to take part in effective intervention and programs that could reduce the impact, such as getting educated about managing arthritis through the foundation's self-help program and getting more physically active through the foundation's exercise or aquatics programs.

The foundation offers resources for managing the disease, such as free brochures and booklets for patients, community-based health education and exercise programs, and the national bimonthly consumer magazine, Arthritis Today.

For more information on these resources or on handling the disease, visit www.arthritis.org.