Invest in Arthritis Research
Fueling Innovation for an Arthritis Cure:
$1.9 Billion Increase Needed to Continue the NIH Progress
- Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and juvenile arthritis are among the most common forms of arthritis, affecting 46 million or about 1 in 5 Americans.
- 294,000 children under the age of 17 have a form of arthritis.
- By the year 2030, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate 25% of the projected total adult population or 67 million adults aged 18 years and older will have doctor-diagnosed arthritis.
- Arthritis costs the U.S. economy $128 billion – $81 billion in direct medical costs and $47 billion in indirect productivity costs – equivalent to 1.2% of the 2003 U.S. gross domestic product.
- Less than 50% of working age adults with rheumatoid arthritis are still employed 10 years after disease onset.
- Nearly 19 million people experience activity limitations.
- Nearly 2/3 of people diagnosed with arthritis are under the age of 65.
- 750,000 hospitalizations and 36 million outpatient visits annually are due to arthritis.
An increased public investment in biomedical research holds the real promise of improving the lives of millions of Americans with arthritis. This investment will reduce the burden of arthritis on the U.S. economy with less missed work days, disability payments, and expensive surgical interventions.
Congressional Request:
To support research that will lead to improved treatments and a potential cure for arthritis, the Arthritis Foundation requests Congress provide a $1.9 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health in the Fiscal Year 2009 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill.
Research funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Arthritis Foundation has produced a revolutionary class of biological therapies that alleviate painful inflammation and prevent disability. While these advances have changed the lives of Americans living with arthritis significantly, there is still no cure for the disease and its prevalence and impact continue to grow.
With continued and increased investment in research, the Arthritis Foundation believes a cure is on the horizon. We urge Congress to expand NIH funding to continue to fuel innovation and discoveries that could put an end to the pain of arthritis.
Print this Issue Brief on the need for increased investment in NIH arthritis research.
For more information about arthritis research or other policy initiatives, please contact the Arthritis Foundation’s Public Policy and Advocacy Department at (202) 887-1700.
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