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Who
Is Affected by Arthritis and Rheumatic Conditions?
An estimated
40 million people in the United States have arthritis or other rheumatic
conditions. By the year 2020, this number is expected to reach 59
million. Rheumatic diseases are the leading cause of disability
among adults age 65 and older.
Rheumatic diseases
affect people of all races and ages. Some rheumatic conditions are
more common among certain populations. For example:
- Rheumatoid
arthritis occurs two to three times more often in women than in
men.
- Scleroderma
is more common in women than in men.
- Nine out
of 10 people who have lupus are women.
- Nine out
of 10 people who have fibromyalgia are women.
- Gout is more
common in men than in women.
- Lupus is
three times more common in African-American women than in Caucasian
women.
- Ankylosing
spondylitis is more common in men than in women.
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