May 2025 – Arthritis Awareness Month
While most people have probably heard of arthritis, it’s likely that many of them don’t know much about the impact of arthritis, the #1 cause of disability in the United States. That’s why, during Arthritis Awareness Month every May, the Arthritis Foundation calls extra attention to this painful and debilitating condition that affects nearly 60 million men, women and children in the U.S.
In 1972, at the urging of the Arthritis Foundation, Congress and President Richard M. Nixon designated May as National Arthritis Month — a special time to emphasize research, service and education around arthritis, and to raise funds to support the cause. Every May since then, National Arthritis Month has been marked by efforts to elevate the public’s awareness of arthritis.
The Arthritis Foundation works to share little known facts so that more people realize the serious impacts arthritis has, like the real-life statistics below.
Basic Facts About Arthritis
- About 1 in 4 adults and hundreds of thousands of children in the U.S. have been diagnosed by a doctor with a form of arthritis or related illness.
- Contrary to the common misconception, it’s not just an “old person’s” disease. About two-thirds of those living with arthritis are aged 65 and under.
- There are more than 100 types of arthritis and related rheumatic diseases.
- As our nation’s top cause of disability, arthritis costs the U.S. economy over $300 billion annually in medical bills, lost wages and associated expenses.
- Most people with arthritis also have comorbidities — accompanying conditions, like heart disease, diabetes and obesity — that further jeopardizes their health.
To learn more, visit the Arthritis Foundation by clicking here.
