Rheumatoid Arthritis Rising Among Older Women; Rate
Now Twice that of Men
Mayo Clinic finds incidence for men remained about 29
per 100,000, women jump from 36 to 54 per 100,000
Oct. 29, 2008 - After four decades on the decline,
rheumatoid arthritis is on the upswing among older women in the United
States. That's the finding presented by Mayo Clinic investigators at the
annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology/Association of
Rheumatology Health Professionals in San Francisco.
"This is a significant finding and an indicator
that more research needs to be done to better understand the causes and
treatment of this devastating disease," says Sherine Gabriel, M.D., Mayo
Clinic rheumatologist and lead investigator on the study.
From 1955 to 1994, the incidence of rheumatoid
arthritis had continually been on the decline. That apparently changed
beginning in the mid-1990s. When Mayo researchers analyzed patient data
from early 1995 to the start of 2005, they found that both the incidence
and prevalence (percentage) of the condition were rising.
Compared to the previous decade when approximately
36 women out of every 100,000 developed rheumatoid arthritis each year,
the new study showed a jump to 54 women in the more recent decade.
The incidence for men remained at about 29 per
100,000. Overall, the percentage of the entire population with the
condition rose from 0.85 percent to 0.95 percent.
Researchers say it's not clear why this is
happening, but an environmental factor may have a role in the shifting
incidence and prevalence among women.
The study included 350 adult patients from Olmsted
County, MN, whose average age was 56.5 years. The majority, 69 percent,
were women.
The research was supported by Mayo Clinic and
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
Others on the research team were Cynthia Crowson; Hilal Maradit-Kremers,
M.D.; and Terry Therneau, Ph.D.
About Arthritis Types - Overview
The word arthritis actually means
joint inflammation. The term arthritis is used to describe more than 100
rheumatic diseases and conditions that affect joints, the tissues which
surround the joint and other connective tissue. The pattern, severity
and location of symptoms can vary depending on the specific form of the
disease.
Typically, rheumatic conditions are characterized
by pain and stiffness in and around one or more joints. The symptoms can
develop gradually or suddenly. Certain rheumatic conditions can also
involve the immune system and various internal organs of the body.
A brief overview of the most common forms of
arthritis will be discussed in this section. Whenever possible, the
format for each arthritis type overview will include the following
sections: background, prevalence (the number of people affected now),
incidence (the number of new people affected in a given time period),
mortality, hospitalizations, ambulatory care data (office, hospital
outpatient, and emergency department visits), cost (direct and indirect
where available), impact on quality of life and unique characteristics
(such as transient nature, post infectious, etc.).
References and resources for further information
are provided at the end of each overview.
Rheumatoid
arthritis (RA) is a form of arthritis that causes pain, swelling,
stiffness and loss of function in your joints. It can affect any joint
but is common in the wrist and fingers.
You might have the disease for only a short time,
or symptoms might come and go. The severe form can last a lifetime.
Anyone can get this disease, though it occurs more
often in women. Rheumatoid arthritis often starts in middle age and is
most common in older people. But children and young adults can
also get it.
Rheumatoid arthritis is different from
osteoarthritis, the common arthritis that often comes with older
age. RA can affect body parts besides joints, such as your eyes,
mouth and lungs.
RA is an
autoimmune disease, which means the arthritis results from your
immune system attacking your body's own tissues.
No one knows what causes rheumatoid arthritis.
Genes, environment and hormones might contribute. Treatments include
medicine, lifestyle changes and surgery. These can slow or stop joint
damage and reduce pain and swelling.
Rheumatoid