21 million Americans suffers arthritis pain

Approximately 21 million Americans - 9.5 percent of adults 18 and older - either visited or called a doctor for a prescription to reduce arthritis pain in 2005, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. It is usually associated with aging and most often causes pain and stiffness in the fingers, knees, and hips. A less common form of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis, occurring when the body’s own defense system doesn’t work properly, causing pain in the joints and bones. Rheumatoid arthritis may also affect internal organs and systems.

AHRQ’s data found that in 2005:

Some 9.5 million adults sought treatment, but women did it more often than men - 12 percent vs.7 percent.

More whites sought treatment for arthritis (10.5 percent), followed closely by blacks (just under 10 percent), compared to Hispanics (6 percent), and Asians (4 percent).