Facts about Arthritis
Arthritis Facts
Arthritis is a serious national health problem affecting nearly three quarters of a million men and women, even affecting up to 1000 children in Ireland.
Please find below some facts about this common disease:
1 in 6
Over 1 in 6 people have some form of arthritis in Ireland. This means 714,000 Irish people have arthritis. Some 34% of women and 23% of men are affected by arthritis.
Top
Over 100 Types
There are over 100 types of arthritis.
TopVisits to the Doctor
Over 30% of GP visits relate to arthritis.
TopOsteoarthritis
A significant majority of people suffering from arthritis have osteoarthritis (OA). This is the "wear and tear" form of arthritis and results in joint and cartilage damage and increased risk of orthopaedic dependencies. The majority of Irish people over 55 years of age have X-Ray evidence of OA at some joint in their body.
TopRheumatoid Arthritis
40,000 people have the severe inflammatory form called rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 70% of these rheumatoid arthritis patients are women.
TopOsteoarthritis In Women
Women are likely to be affected 2-3 times more than men by OA.
TopAffects All Ages
18% of arthritis patients are less than 55 years old.
TopJuvenile Arthritis
Arthritis affects 1 in 1000 children which makes it about as common as childhood diabetes.
TopPatient Care
Over 60% of patients remain in the primary care system after diagnosis.
TopArthritis & Disability
Arthritis is the single biggest cause of disability in Ireland. A significant burden of ill health and disability is attributable to arthritis.
TopArthritis & Work
70% of rheumatoid arthritis patients cannot work outside the home due to their disease. It is estimated that the costs of arthritis to the state in terms of lost working hours per annum is €1.6 billion.
TopEarly Diagnosis & Treatment
Many forms of arthritis are associated with co-morbidities and early mortality. Early diagnosis and treatment is essential to prevent long-term disability and / or disfigurement.