JointHealth
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Who Gets Arthritis

  • 1 in 6 Canadians have arthritis—4 and a half million in total.
  • 3 out of 5 Canadians with arthritis are under the age of 65.
  • 60% of Canadians with arthritis are between 15 and 60 years of age.
  • Arthritis affects people of all ages, from babies to senior citizens.
  • Arthritis affects people of both genders and all races.
  • Arthritis is among the three most common chronic diseases in Canada.
  • Arthritis is among the most common chronic diseases in children. One in 1,000 children in Canada has arthritis.
  • The chance of developing arthritis increases with age, but more serious types of the disease can strike babies and people in the prime of their lives.
  • Diseases like juvenile idiopathic arthritis and juvenile dermatomyocitis affect only children, while diseases like ankylosing spondylitis tend to strike people in the prime of life.
  • Aboriginal people have a much higher rate of arthritis than non-aboriginal people. 19% of Aboriginal people living off-reserve report having arthritis (data are only currently available for people living off-reserve). If the Aboriginal population had the same age composition as the overall Canadian population, this rate would be 27%.