Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 43, No. 17, May 6, 1994. National Arthritis Month, May 1994. Current Trends: Prevlance of Arthritis--Arizona, Missouri, and Ohio, 1991-1992.

摘要

Although regional and national data about arthritis can be used to develop synthetically derived measures of prevalence for states, few state surveys exist for determining the prevalence and impact of arthritis at that level. To measure state specific prevalences, during 1991-1992 Arizona, Missouri, and Ohio added questions about arthritis to their Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys. This report presents BRFSS-derived estimates of self-reported prevalence of clinically diagnosed arthritis in these states and characteristics of adults who reported this disorder. The BRFSS is a state-based, random-digitdialed telephone survey that collects self-reported data from a representative sample of civilian, noninstitutionalized persons aged 3-18 years. BRFSS data were analyzed from 4688 persons who resided in Arizona (n=1847), Missouri (n=1509), and Ohio (n=1332). In Arizona, respondents were asked if they currently had some form of arthritis, gout, bursitis, tendonitis, or lupus and if they had been told this by a doctor. In Ohio, respondents were asked if they ever had been told by a doctor that they had any of those conditions. In Missouri, respondents were asked if they ever had been told by a health professional that they had arthritis. For the purpose of this report, persons who answered yes to any of these questions were considered to have arthritis. Respondents in Arizona and Ohio also were asked how often arthritis prevented them from performing work or participating in social activities. Prevalence rates of arthritis were 20.5% in Arizona, 23.7% in Missouri, and 24.5% in Ohio. Prevalence increased with age, and half of respondents aged 3-75 years were affected. For example, in Missouri, 9.7% of persons aged 18-44 years reported having arthritis, compared with 58.4% of persons aged 3-75 years. Age-adjusted prevalence rates were higher for whites, women, and overweight adults (men: body mass index (BMI) 327.8; women: BMI 327.3). Of persons who reported having arthritis, 47% in Arizona and 46% in Ohio reported limited activity. Activity limitations occurred every day or almost every day for 13% in Arizona and 14% in Ohio.