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Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act
(S. 626 /
H.R. 1283)
- 46 million Americans have doctor-diagnosed
arthritis.1
- Arthritis costs our country $128 billion
annually; $81 billion in direct medical costs.2
- 300,000 children have a form of juvenile
arthritis including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma.3
- 9,500 Americans died due to arthritis in
2003.4
- By the year 2030, 67 million Americans or
25% of the adult population will have arthritis.1
- Americans with rheumatoid arthritis die 5
to 10 years earlier than persons without arthritis.5
- 50% of Americans with rheumatoid
arthritis are forced to stop working within 10 years of diagnosis.6
These are just a few of the facts about
arthritis, a chronic, painful, and disabling disease. To help address this
ever-growing problem, the Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act proposes
to strengthen arthritis public health initiatives, which would ensure that more
people are diagnosed early and avoid pain and permanent disability. While there
are several new medicines available to treat the symptoms of arthritis, there is
no cure. The legislation proposes to ensure that limited federal funding for
arthritis research is used in the most strategic manner possible through the
formation of a federal interagency coordinating committee. Finally, early
diagnosis and aggressive treatment are critical for children with arthritis.
Unfortunately with a severe shortage of pediatric rheumatologists, many families
drive several hours to see a physician for treatment. The legislation authorizes
a remedy to help address this shortage as well as a prevalence study of
arthritis in children and a patient registry.
Please give hope to the 46 million Americans struggling with the daily pain
of arthritis by cosponsoring the Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act.
For more information about this
legislation or other policy initiatives, please contact the Arthritis
Foundation’s
Office of Health Policy and Advocacy at (202) 887-1700.
Reference List
1.CDC. Prevalence of Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis and Arthritis-Attributable
Activity Limitation — United States, 2003–2005. MMWR 2006; 55: 1089-1091.
2 CDC. National and State Medical Expenditures and Lost Earnings Attributable to
Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Conditions --- United States, 2003. MMWR 2007; 56:
4-7.
3 Newacheck PW, Taylor WR: Childhood chronic illness: prevalence, severity, and
impact. Am J Public Health 82 (3):364-371, 1992
4 CDC data. Compiled from multiple sources.
5 Kvien, TK. 2004. Epidemiology and burden of illness of rheumatoid arthritis.
Pharmacoeconomics 22:1-12.
6 Yelin, E., C. Henke, and W. Epstein. 1987. The work dynamics of the person
with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatism 30:507-12.
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