Arthritis has an impact on the daily lives of Canadians young and old

Results from a population-based survey.

Background

There is a perception that the impacts of arthritis are greatest among older adults. However, the effect of age on health-related outcomes in individuals with arthritis has not been explicitly studied. This study examined whether the physical and mental health impacts of arthritis are greater in older (75+ years) versus younger (20–44, 45–64 and 65–74 years) Canadian adults.

Conclusions

Contrary to the belief that older adults with arthritis experience more severe physical and mental health outcomes, our study demonstrates wide-ranging impacts of arthritis on individuals of all ages. In fact, we found that older adults were less likely to report worse outcomes such as joint pain, sleep limitations, high levels of stress and suboptimal mental health than younger adults. In light of these findings, public health messaging should stress that arthritis does not just affect the elderly and should emphasize the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment at all ages in order to prevent or, minimize arthritis related impairment.

References

Arthritis has an impact on the daily lives of Canadians young and old: results from a population-based survey, Siobhan O’Donnell, Corneliu Rusu, Gillian A. Hawker, Sasha Bernatsky, Louise McRae, Mayilee Canizares, Crystal MacKay and Elizabeth M. Badley. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2015, 16:230  doi:10.1186/s12891-015-0691-2

Comparison of health-related outcomes for arthritis, chronic joint symptoms, and sporadic joint symptoms: A population-based study, Mayilee Canizares and Elizabeth M. Badley. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2012 Nov;64(11):1708-14. doi: 10.1002/acr.21735