osteoarthritis in canada: stats, impact and resources

as for the why behind osteoarthritis, research is filling in some of the unknowns. obesity puts people at high risk because the extra weight puts added stress on weight-bearing joints like your hips and knees, according to the mayo clinic . fat tissue produces proteins that can cause inflammation in and around your joints. also, repeated stress on joints from sports and joint injuries from sports or an accident, even those that happened years ago and healed, are factors for increased risk. some people inherit a genetic predisposition or are born with bone deformities or defective cartilage.

as the annals of translational medicine notes , certain metabolic diseases like diabetes and hypertension can put people at higher risk because they share many of the same mechanisms, such as inflammatory aging and oxidative stress that can damage bone and cartilage.

while medications can help control symptoms and surgery may be an option, adopting lifestyle changes like getting regular exercise, eating healthy and weight management have shifted the emphasis to prevention. september is arthritis awareness month, with arthritis society canada calling the disease a “serious urgent health crisis” that “devastates lives, steals moments, employment and mobility.”

osteoarthritis stats in canada

osteoarthritis affects more than four million canadians, or about one in every seven adults, which is more than all other types of arthritis combined, according to arthritis society canada . about 15 per cent of canadians age 20-plus have osteoarthritis.

the charity released its burden of osteoarthritis in canada report in 2021 to look at the impact of osteoarthritis on canada and patients and their families. researchers pulled together data from multiple canadian population-based surveys.

• 18 per cent of canadian women age 20-plus have oa
• 11 per cent of canadian men age 20-plus have oa

the disease appears to favour women, particularly after menopause, with theories ranging from weight gain, anatomy of wider hips that can place a greater load on the outer portion of the knee, changing hormones and sports injuries like anterior cruciate ligament tears (common in soccer players) that are linked to higher risk of oa, notes the hospital for special surgery .

the majority of people with oa report that it impacts their lives in some way . regardless of age, people with oa experience pain, disability and other life-changing problems:

• more than 90 per cent have joint pain, stiffness or aching. the proportion of people reporting severe and frequent joint pain varies little across age groups
• oa pain usually affects more than one joint. the most common joint site reported is the knee followed by the hand, back and hip
• nearly two thirds (64 per cent) of people with oa say it limits them in getting a good night’s sleep, especially in women. women are also more likely to report severe and frequent fatigue
• more than three-quarters (77 per cent) of people report it has required them to reduce at least some of their day-to-day activities
• nearly half (42 per cent) of the working-age population with oa (20 to 64 years old) reports not being in the labour force or in school, compared to less than one fifth (19 per cent) of the general population. further, oa may require people to change the number of hours they work, the type of work, the way they carry out tasks, or to stop working altogether
• people with oa are more than twice as likely to say their general health isn’t good, compared to the general population
• more than two thirds (70 per cent) of people report having at least one other chronic condition, compared to 40 per cent among the general population. people with oa are also more likely to say their mental health isn’t good, compared to the general population. they are more likely to have been diagnosed with a mood or anxiety disorder in addition to oa.

the prevalence of oa and its associated burden have increased in canada year-over-year and are projected to continue increasing because of population aging and rising rates of obesity, a leading risk factor for osteoarthritis, a study from the canadian primary care sentinel surveillance network found.

and self-reported weight data gathered from the 2022 canadian community health survey suggest that almost one in three canadians aged 18 and older had obesity in 2022, which is up from one in five people in 2003.

as the arthritis foundation notes , being overweight or having obesity makes the effects of oa more disabling. obese people with oa take more medications, walk more slowly, are less physically active and are at higher risk of becoming disabled. hand oa is approximately twice as common among people with obesity, and for a person who has obesity, once you have oa in one joint, you will likely develop it elsewhere. for example, people with obesity and oa in one knee are above five times more likely to develop oa in the other knee.

impact of osteoarthritis on canadian society

health science researchers worked with statistics canada to project the substantial cost burden of the disease in a 2015 report published in osteoarthritis and cartilage . they looked at costs associated with pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments like physiotherapy, joint replacement surgery, as well as use of hospital resources and management of complications from treatment.

resources and support for osteoarthritis in canada

• arthritis society canada
• canadian arthritis patient alliance
• canadian orthopaedic association

• people with oa are more likely to have a body mass index (bmi) indicative of overweight or obesity compared to the general population. a pronounced difference is seen in young adults under 45
• while most people with oa have additional chronic conditions across all age groups, this is particularly striking in younger adults with oa compared to their peers in the general population
• younger adults with oa are the most likely to report life dissatisfaction compared to older adults with oa or the general population.