Arthritis For a Day

Arthritis Facts

Arthritis is the name given to a group of conditions which cause damage to bones and joints
The two main types of arthritis are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Arthritis affects one in five people in the UK¹
An estimated 70% of all 70-year-olds have arthritis, but the condition can affect people of all ages²
The prevalence rate of arthritis in women (227/1000) is twice that of men (113/1000)³
One in four of all GP consultations in the UK is due to arthritis⁴
Six per cent of adults aged 30+ have frequent knee pain and radiographic arthritis⁵

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis in which cartilage breaks down (sometimes described as ‘wear and tear arthritis’). When this tissue deteriorates, it leaves the bones to rub against each other, causing pain and stiffness. The disease may also be preferred to as degenerative joint disease or degenerative arthritis
Osteoarthritis affects 8.5 million people in the UK. Osteoarthritis can develop at any age, although it occurs more frequently in people over 45. Sports injury to a joint can also trigger osteoarthritis, even many years later⁶
There are several factors involved in the disease, including heredity and genes, being overweight, injury and overuse of joints, but not all causes are known. It may take a combination of these factors to eventually result in osteoarthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Also known as inflammatory arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is a more severe, but less common condition. The body’s immune system attacks and destroys the joint, causing pain and swelling. It can lead to reduction of movement, and the breakdown of bone and cartilage
More than 350,000 people in Britain have rheumatoid arthritis. It can happen in people of any age, from children to those in their 90s, but the most common age for the disease to start is between 40 and 50⁷
The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. We know how the condition attacks the joints, but it is not yet known what triggers the initial attack. Some theories have suggested that an infection or a virus may trigger rheumatoid arthritis, but none of these theories have been proven

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