Description
Arthritis is due to the wearing down of cartilage, which is the material that cushions the ends of the bones.The joints most commonly affected by arthritis are weight-bearing joints, such as feet, knees, hips and spine. Other joints, such as finger and thumb joints, may also be affected.
Arthritis/rheumatism (actually a group of more than 100 conditions) is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting almost 4 millions Canadians with numbers expected to double by 2020 (Badley and Wang, 1998). It is one of the most common causes of physical disability (activity limitation) (CCHS 2000) and it carries an economic burden estimated at $16.4 billion (Economic Burden of Illness in Canada, 1998); it ranks second after cardiovascular diseases in terms of economic burden.
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How the Government of Canada is taking action
The Public Health Agency of Canada, in collaboration with key partners, is contributing to the enhancement of systematic national surveillance in the area of arthritis and other related conditions. In particular, the Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, through the Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division, has released in September 2003, a surveillance publication entitled: "Arthritis in Canada: an ongoing challenge". This publication is pulling together all available data on the impact of arthritis in Canada. The publication provides an overview of the magnitude of the impact of arthritis, use of health services, and health & social outcomes in the Canadian population; identifies strategies that might be used to reduce its adverse consequences, and to enhance access to care and services; and explores approaches to arthritis surveillance in Canada.
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