Arthritis Increased Amongst US Veterans Save

A recent CDC reports estimates that in 2019–2021, 21% of U.S. adults (53.2 million) have physician diagnosed arthritis. Now, an updated report shows a larger number (~33%) of U.S. veterans having diagnosed arthritis. Compared to nonveterans, this prevalence was double in men, and 60% higher in women.

CDC data drawn from the 2017–2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System estimates the prevalence of diagnosed arthritis in veterans to be 35% in men and 32% in women.

Compared to nonveterans the arthritis prevalence among male veterans was double for those 18–44 years  (prevalence ratio [PR] = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.9–2.2), and 30% higher in those aged 45–64 years (PR = 1.3; 95% CI = 1.3–1.4).

Among women aged 18–44 years, arthritis prevalence among veterans was 60% higher than that among nonveterans (PR = 1.6; 95% CI = 1.4–1.7); among women aged 45–64 years, arthritis prevalence among veterans was 20% higher than that among nonveterans (PR = 1.2; 95% CI = 1.1–1.3).

Geographically, the age-adjusted prevalence of arthritis among male veterans ranged from 18.1% in DC to 35.8% in West Virginia (male veteran state median = 25.5%). The age-adjusted prevalence of arthritis among female veterans ranged from 21.8% in Hawaii to 39.3% in Arkansas (female veteran state median = 31.2%).

Generally, the highest age-adjusted arthritis prevalence quartile among veterans, for both men and women, was in the southern and Appalachian regions. Eight states were in the highest quartile for state-specific arthritis prevalence among male and female veterans (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and West Virginia).