Grassroots

10,000 in 2008

The Arthritis Foundation needs your help! We want to have 10,000 Advocates in the Arthritis Advocacy Network by the end of 2008. You can help us meet this goal and become a star for people with arthritis.

Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act

(H.R. 1283/S. 626)

• 46 million Americans have doctor-diagnosed arthritis and 23 million have possible chronic joint symptoms.¹
• 300,000 children have a form of juvenile arthritis including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma.²
• 9,500 Americans died due to arthritis in 2003.³
• Americans with rheumatoid arthritis die 5 to 10 years earlier than persons without arthritis.⁴
• Arthritis costs our country $86 billion annually; $51 billion in direct medical costs.⁵
• 50% of Americans with rheumatoid arthritis are forced to stop working within 10 years of diagnosis.⁶
• Americans with rheumatoid arthritis face a significantly increased rate of cardiovascular disease.⁷

These are a few of the hard facts about arthritis. Fortunately, there is increasing hope for Americans living with the daily pain and physical limitations associated with arthritis. The legislation proposes to strengthen arthritis public health initiatives, which would ensure that more people are diagnosed early and avoid pain and permanent disability. Research has shown that people who started disease modifying medications within the first year of their disease were less likely to experience disability than people who started treatment five years after the start of the disease.⁸ While there are new medicines to treat arthritis, recent news stories about a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes associated with some therapies have shown that more effective and safe treatments must be found. The bill proposes to ensure that our limited federal funding for arthritis research is used in the most strategic manner possible. Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are especially important for children with arthritis. Unfortunately with a severe shortage of pediatric rheumatologists, many families drive several hours to see a physician for treatment. The legislation authorizes a prevalence study of arthritis in children and helps ensure that there are more pediatric rheumatologists to treat them.

Please help the 46 million Americans living with arthritis by joining Senators Kit Bond (R-MO) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Representatives Chip Pickering (R-MS) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA) in cosponsoring the Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act.

For more information about this legislation or other policy initiatives, please contact the Arthritis Foundation's National Office of Health Policy and Advocacy at (202) 887-1700.

Reference List

1. Bolen J, Sniezek J, Theis K, Helmick C, Hootman J, Brady T, and Langmaid G. 2005. Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Prevalence and Impact of Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis --- United States, 2002. MMWR 54:119-123.
2. Newacheck PW, Taylor WR: Childhood chronic illness: prevalence, severity, and impact. Am J Public Health 82 (3):364-371, 1992
3. CDC data. Compiled from multiple sources.
4. Kvien, TK. 2004. Epidemiology and burden of illness of rheumatoid arthritis. Pharmacoeconomics 22:1-12.
5. Murphy L, Cisternas M, Yelin E, Trupin L, and Helmick CG. 2004. Update: Direct and Indirect Costs of Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Conditions --- United States, 1997. MMWR 53:388-389.
6. Yelin, E., C. Henke, and W. Epstein. 1987. The work dynamics of the person with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatism 30:507-12.
7. Bacon PA; Stevens RJ; Carruthers DM; Young SP; Kitas GD. 2002. Accelerated atherogenesis in autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Autoimmunity Review. 1:338-347.
8. Keysser, M., C. Keysser, W. Keitel, and G. Keysser. 2001. Loss of functional capacity caused by a delayed onset of DMARD therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. Long-term follow-up results of the Keitel function test. Brief definite report. Rheumatol 60:69-73.

Take Action Today! Send a letter to your representatives today supporting the Arthritis Foundation's position on access to health care and the latest treatment options. Just enter your zip code and choose from one of our suggested letters or compose your own letter.

How You Can Help

The Arthritis Foundation promotes government and private sector action to improve the lives of the 46 million Americans living with arthritis. But we need your help to get more government funding for arthritis research, to encourage early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment, and to improve access to quality health care for everyone with arthritis.

Visit our Advocacy Section for tools you need to become informed about the issues and to make your voice heard. You will find issue "backgrounders," Arthritis Foundation position statements, as well as links to other Web sites that may be helpful.

Become An Advocate -- Join the Arthritis Foundation Advocacy Network

Arthritis Advocacy Priorities -- Read about the issues

Contact Congress -- Quickly locate your legislators and send a message