title: Arthritis as a public health issue.
abstract: Arthritis affects 46 million people in the United States and more than 900,000 people (23% of the adult population) in Minnesota. Although the prevalence of the disease is greater in older age groups, more than half of those affected are younger than 65 years of age. This article discusses the socioeconomic impact of arthritis, the way the disease interacts with other chronic conditions, and why it should be viewed and managed as a public health issue.
authors.affiliation: Minnesota Department of Health, Division of Health Promotion and Chronic Diseases, USA.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Zyl York
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Franken
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001168:Arthritis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011634:Public Health / Q000191:economics; D055815:Young Adult