A Korean nationwide cohort study found that both seropositive and seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have a significantly higher risk of depression.  Depression is one of the most common comorbidities in rheumatic disease patients and it imparts a significant morbidity and mortality risk for those affected.

While it is believed that autoimmunity follows autoantibody positivity, a Danish study shows the incidence of polyautoimmunity to be similar in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who are either anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA)–positive or ACPA–negative.  Data was drawn from RA adults in the DANBIO rheumatology register. Polyautoimmunity included 21 nonrheumatic autoimmune diseases. 

According to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), in 2022, the prevalence of diagnosed arthritis in adults was 18.9% (women 21.5%, more than men 16.1%). These numbers are down since the CDC's MMWR report of 2019–2021, where is was estimated 21.2% of U.S. adults (53.2 million) had "diagnosed arthritis".  Trends show: 

Data from the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2019, suggests that early-onset osteoarthritis (OA) (before age 55 yrs) is an emerging health issue that parallels societal problems of obesity. 

Having patients waiting for knee arthroplasty undergo a preoperative program of weight loss, exercise, and other interventions gave them modestly improved pain, function, and quality of life, a small randomized trial showed.