Definition

Utah adults 18 years of age and older with doctor-diagnosed arthritis who report limiting any activities because of their arthritis.

Numerator

Respondents who answered "Yes" to the following Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System question were included in the numerator: "Are you now limited in any way in any activities because of arthritis or joint symptoms?" Responses of "Don't know/Not sure", "Refused", and those with "Missing" responses were excluded.

Denominator

Number of respondents who reported being told by a healthcare professional they had some form of arthritis. Responses of "Don't know/Not sure" or "Refused", and those with "Missing" responses were excluded.

Why Is This Important?

Arthritis is a common and disabling chronic disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of adults limited by arthritis has significantly increased in the past two decades. Daily activities, such as holding a cup or walking upstairs, are limited for 24 million adults due to their arthritis.[https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/pdf/2017-03-vitalsigns.pdf 1] Arthritis and other rheumatic conditions are leading causes of work disability.[https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/index.html 2] Adults with arthritis are less likely to be working than those without arthritis. Monitoring the prevalence of arthritis-attributable activity limitation among adults is important for estimating the need for intervention programs to reduce the disabling effects of arthritis, and to estimate how well existing intervention programs are working. These programs include self-management education programs and physical activity programs that have been shown to reduce pain and costs as well as improve physical function, mental health, and quality of life. Arthritis-attributable activity limitation can be prevented or reduced in many persons. For example, aerobic and strengthening exercises can improve physical function and self-reported disability among older adults with disabilities. In addition, for persons with arthritis who are not limited in activity, regular physical activity can reduce the risk for functional activity limitation. Arthritis self-management education classes can also reduce pain and disability.

Other Objectives

Healthy People 2030 Objective A-04: Increase the proportion of adults with provider-diagnosed arthritis who receive health care provider counseling for physical activity or exercise. [[br]] '''U.S. Target:''' 68.8 percent

How Are We Doing?

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey revealed that in 2021 42.5% of Utah adults with arthritis (crude rate) are limited in their usual activities due to their arthritis. Males have slightly lower rates of activity limitation due to their arthritis (41.7%) compared to females (49.4%, 2021 age-adjusted rates). Despite the known benefits of exercise for persons with arthritis, in 2023, 35.8% of Utah adults with arthritis reported they did not meet the recommended requirements for aerobic physical activity (crude rate). In 2023, 22.7% of Utah adults with arthritis reported that they did not participate in exercise or physical activity in the past month (i.e. were physically inactive).

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

In 2021, the age-adjusted rate of activity limitation due to arthritis was 46.0% in Utah, which was slightly worse than the U.S. rate of 44.0%. Because age affects the likelihood of having arthritis, it is beneficial to adjust for the effect of age when comparing populations. This method helps to determine if a certain population has a factor, which contributes to arthritis more than the effect of age. Therefore, these data were adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population.

What Is Being Done?

The Healthy Aging Program focuses on measuring the occurrence of arthritis in Utah, increasing arthritis awareness and educational opportunities, and promoting participation in programs proven to help persons with arthritis, pain, and other chronic conditions. Additionally, the Healthy Aging Program supports health systems, clinics, and physicians using strategies and resources that support healthcare provider-patient counseling to increase physical activity and referrals to evidence-based workshops and classes. Physicians can use the [https://healthyaging.utah.gov/find-workshop/#/ Find a Workshop Feature] to refer patients to the evidence-based classes.

Evidence-based Practices

The Healthy Aging Program partners with healthcare, nonprofit, and government organizations across Utah to deliver evidence-based workshops to help people better manage arthritis, pain, and other chronic conditions. Schedules and locations of these workshops can be found at [https://healthyaging.utah.gov/]. The Healthy Aging Program recommends and supports the *Chronic Disease Self-Management Education programs, EnhanceFitness, Walk With Ease, Stepping On, Tai Chi, and the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program which have been proven to improve the quality of life for people with arthritis and other chronic conditions. *Chronic Disease Self-Management Eduation programs include:[[br]] - Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) as known as Living Well with Chronic Conditions[[br]] - Diabetes Self-Management Program (DSMP) also known as Living Well with Diabetes[[br]] - Chronic Pain Self-Management Program (CPSMP) also known as Living Well with Chronic Pain[[br]] - Tomando Control de su Salud (Spanish CDSMP)[[br]] - Programa de Manejo Personal del Dolor Crnico (Spanish CDSMP)[[br]] - Programa de Manejo Personal de la Diabetes (Spanish DSMP) [[br]] [[br]] For additional information on these programs visit [https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/caring/index.html] or [https://healthyaging.utah.gov/].

Available Services

To find and register for an evidence-based program in your area please visit:[[br]] [https://healthyaging.utah.gov/find-workshop/#/][[br]] or call the Health Resource Line at:[[br]] 1-888-222-2542[[br]] [[br]] Utah Department of Health and Human Services[[br]] Healthy Aging Program[[br]] Bureau of Health Promotion and Prevention[[br]] P.O. Box 142107[[br]] Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-2107[[br]] (801) 538-9458[[br]] [https://healthyaging.utah.gov/][[br]] [[br]] Arthritis Foundation[[br]] 1355 Peachtree Street, Suite 600[[br]] Atlanta, Georgia 30309[[br]] 1(800) 283-7800[[br]] [[br]] Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services[[br]] Department of Health and Human Services[[br]] 195 North 1950 West[[br]] Salt Lake City, Utah 84116[[br]] (801) 538-3910[[br]] [https://daas.utah.gov/][[br]] [[br]] University of Utah[[br]] Department of Internal Medicine and Division of Rheumatology[[br]] School of Medicine[[br]] 30 North 1900 East, Room 4C104[[br]] Salt Lake City, Utah 84132[[br]] (801) 581-7606[[br]] [[br]] The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital[[br]] 5848 South 300 East[[br]] Murray, Utah 84107[[br]] (801) 314-4100[[br]] [https://intermountainhealthcare.org/locations/the-orthopedic-specialty-hospital/][[br]] [[br]] Salt Lake County Aging Services[[br]] 2001 South State Street[[br]] Salt Lake City, Utah 84190[[br]] (385) 468-3200

Health Program Information

The vision of the Healthy Aging Program is to increase self-management skills and improve the quality of life for all Utahns affected by arthritis and other chronic conditions. The Healthy Aging Program provides technical assistance and coordination to increase awareness, expand reach, and achieve sustainability of evidence-based self-management programs for all Utahns affected by arthritis and other chronic conditions through statewide partnerships. Contact healthyaging@utah.gov for questions about providing, referring, or increasing physician counseling for patients into the evidence-based programs.

Relevant Population Characteristics

The population characteristic most relevant to arthritis is the age distribution of the population. Anyone can develop arthritis, but the risk increases as people age. As the Utah population ages, a greater percentage of Utahns will be at risk for developing arthritis. Although arthritis is increasingly common as people age, arthritis does not need to be a "normal" part of aging. There are many controllable factors that contribute to arthritis and one's quality of life. Physical activity and weight management are two lifestyle factors that can make a significant on one's likelihood to develop arthritis.

Health Care System Factors

Utah's aging population is likely to lead to an increase in prevalence of arthritis that will have dramatic consequences in terms of activity limitation and healthcare expenditures. Access to healthcare is a problem for many Utahns. Individuals who cannot obtain needed healthcare tend to have higher rates of activity limitations from chronic disease. Cost is the most commonly reported barrier to getting needed healthcare.

Risk Factors

The risk of arthritis is linked to being overweight or obese, lack of physical inactivity, and smoking. Females have higher rates of arthritis than males. The prevalence of arthritis also increases with age. White, non-Hispanic and non-White, non-Hispanic individuals are more likely to report arthritis than Hispanic/Latinos.

Health Status Outcomes

In 2023, 27.7% of Utah adults with arthritis reported being in fair or poor health, and 33.3% reported experiencing seven or more days in the last month when their physical health was not good (crude rates).

Please note that the rates in this graph have been adjusted for age.

Data Notes

Doctor-diagnosed arthritis is self-reported in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and was not confirmed by a healthcare provider. However, such self-reports have been shown to be acceptable for surveillance purposes. Activity limitation is also self-reported.   [[br]][[br]]Beginning in 2011, BRFSS data include both landline and cell phone respondent data along with a new weighting methodology called iterative proportional fitting, or raking. Both of these methodology changes were implemented to account for an increased number of U.S. households without landline phones and an under-representation of certain demographic groups that were not well-represented in the sample. More details about these changes can be found at: [https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/pdf/opha/resource/brfss/RakingImpact2011.pdf] Because age affects the likelihood of having arthritis, it is beneficial to adjust for the effect of age when comparing populations. This method helps to determine if a certain population has a factor, which contributes to arthritis more than the effect of age. Therefore, these data have been age-adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population. Rates are based on five age groups: 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-64, and 65+.

Crude percentage of adults reporting activity limitation due to their arthritis.

Data Notes

Doctor-diagnosed arthritis is self-reported in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and was not confirmed by a healthcare provider. However, such self-reports have been shown to be acceptable for surveillance purposes. Activity limitation is also self-reported.

Data Source

Utah Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) [https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/query/selection/brfss/BRFSSSelection.html]

References and community resources

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024, March 22). Arthritis Basics. Retrieved from [https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/index.html].[[br]] 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024, October 16). Risk Factors. Retrieved from [https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/risk-factors/index.html]. Resources:[[br]] [https://sumh.utah.gov/][[br]] [https://healthyaging.utah.gov/][[br]] [https://daas.utah.gov/][[br]] [http://namiut.org/][[br]]