Description
Arthritis and other rheumatic conditions make up a large group of disorders affecting the joints, ligaments, bones and other components of the musculoskeletal system. While osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis, more than 100 different conditions exists, ranging from relatively mild forms of tendinitis and bursitis to illness in systemic forms, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia, arthritis-related disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus, which affects the entire body, and gout, are also included in the disease's many forms.
Arthritis and other rheumatic conditions affect around 4 million Canadians of all ages, with numbers expected to double by 2020. Although arthritis is most prevalent among seniors, it is not solely confined to the elderly population and many are affected in the prime of their lives. There is no known cure for arthritis, but the causal mechanisms and risk factors are better understood and significant improvements in medications and treatments have been made.
Arthritis is one of the most common causes of physical disability (pain, activity limitation) among Canadians. Arthritis-related pain and disability affect many aspects of life including daily activities, leisure, labour force participation, and social activities. Arthritis carries an economic burden estimated at $4.4 billion (Economic Burden of Illness in Canada, 1998).
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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 Agency 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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