title: State-specific prevalence of arthritis-attributable work limitation--United States, 2003.
abstract: One of the Healthy People 2010 objectives calls for a reduction in the proportion of adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis who are limited in their ability to work for pay because of arthritis (objective 2-5b). Persons who are limited in their work by arthritis are considered to have arthritis-attributable work limitation (AAWL). In the United States, AAWL affects one in 20 working-age adults (aged 18-64 years) and one in three working-age adults with self-reported, doctor-diagnosed arthritis. To estimate state-specific prevalence of AAWL and the percentage employed among working-age U.S. adults with AAWL, CDC analyzed data from the 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. This report describes the results of that analysis, which indicated that the state-specific prevalence of AAWL among all working-age adults ranged from 3.4% (Hawaii) to 15.0% (Kentucky) (median among states: 6.7%) in 2003. Among those with self-reported, doctor-diagnosed arthritis, the prevalence of AAWL ranged from 25.1% (Nevada) to 51.3% (Kentucky) (median among states: 33.0%). In every state, persons with work limitations attributed to arthritis reported being employed less frequently than working-age adults in the state overall and persons with arthritis but not work limitations. Greater use of interventions is needed to help persons with arthritis become and stay employed.
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D001168:Arthritis / Q000191:economics*; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D017281:Cost of Illness; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D018582:Sick Leave; D014481:United States; D014937:Work / Q000191:economics*; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation