Chapter 29 - Arthritis

Summary

This chapter presents the incidence, primary and secondary prevention, clinical presentation and diagnosis and the treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are more common in women and more women are disabled from arthritis. Risk factors for knee osteoarthritis in women include obesity, elevated BMI, old age, and being African Americans. Increased physical activity is associated with an increased risk of osteoarthritis. Women with OA have less incidence of osteoporosis (OP). Usually progressive, disabling, and deforming, treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) now uses disease modifying therapy to prevent further destruction of the joints. The prevalence of RA is 2% rising to a high of 5% in women older than age 55. A retrospective study found that having more than three children increased the risk of developing RA by 4.8 times and increased the risk of poorer prognosis.