arthritis in canada: stats, risk and research

when most people think of arthritis, they envision an older person, possibly hunched over, probably using a walker, maybe even wearing a knee brace. but it might surprise those same people to learn that more than half of the six million canadians with arthritis are younger than 65, according to arthritis society canada , and about a third of them were diagnosed before the age of 45.

what is arthritis?

• osteoarthritis (oa): often the most commonly mentioned type, oa involves the gradual wearing down of cartilage at the ends of bones, predominantly affecting the hands, knees, hips, and spine.
• rheumatoid arthritis (ra): this is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system erroneously targets its own joint linings. it leads to swelling, and over time, can cause joint deformation.
• psoriatic arthritis: typically associated with psoriasis, a skin condition marked by red, scaly patches, this form of arthritis usually develops after the onset of skin symptoms. however, joint issues can sometimes precede the skin manifestations.
• gout: characterized by acute and intense pain, gout occurs in joints, often the big toe, due to the accumulation of uric acid crystals.
• ankylosing spondylitis: primarily impacting the spine, this type of arthritis causes inflammation of the spinal joints, leading to chronic pain. other joints can also be involved in some cases.

arthritis stats in canada: aging population, young women and mental health

six million canadians are living with arthritis, according to arthritis society canada.

• about 1 in 5 people aged 15 and up have arthritis.
• around 25,000 canadian youth seek treatment for arthritis.
• women are disproportionately affected, with nearly 60 per cent of arthritis cases
• 1 in 4 canadian women and 1 in 6 canadian men have arthritis.
• arthritis prevalence increases with age, affecting nearly half of those over 65
• it also affects working-age adults, with over half of sufferers under 65

as the baby boom population ages and life expectancy increases, so too will arthritis cases rise — up to 50 per cent by 2040 , affecting about nine million canadians. this will put enormous pressure on an already strained healthcare system.

but more than that, it will put added pressure — and stress — on those living with arthritis, who are four times more likely to say they are not in good health overall. in fact, nearly four out of five canadians with arthritis have one other chronic health condition, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, and migraine headaches.

younger adults with osteoarthritis, especially young women, report having poorer sleep quality and are more apt to struggle with fatigue than their older counterparts. they’re also more likely to perceive life as stressful.

according to a 2018 report by the public health agency of canada – percentage of population impacted by arthritis:

• first nations people living off reserve – 26 per cent,
• first nations people living on reserve – 25.2 per cent
• métis people –  25.8 per cent
• inuit – 21.1 per cent
• non-indigenous people living in canada – 16.6 per cent

risk factors for arthritis

while age doesn’t cause osteoarthritis, a majority of canadians will be affected with it by the age of 70, according to health canada . other risk factors include excess weight that puts a strain on weight-bearing joints, especially the knees; high-impact sports; injury; or other diseases that affect the joints, such as diabetes.

there’s also evidence that people with gum disease tend to have more severe rheumatoid arthritis, and develop infected gums at 20 times the rate . some researchers have found that oral bacteria can seep from damaged gum tissue, enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body to affect the joints.

also, young people with juvenile idiopathic arthritis have been shown to have inflammatory mouth bacteria , some of which is associated with more affected joints as well as cavities that don’t respond to fluoride treatment.

the complexity of arthritis, research and treatment