Arthritis Still Limits Work and Daily Life for Millions, With Daniel White, MS, ScD

Arthritis remains one of the most prevalent and disabling chronic conditions in the United States, affecting tens of millions of adults and contributing substantially to pain, functional decline, and reduced quality of life. Beyond its clinical manifestations, arthritis carries significant social and economic consequences, particularly through its effects on daily activities and the ability to remain employed. These outcomes are a central focus of national public health efforts, including the Healthy People 2030 initiative, which set specific targets to reduce arthritis-attributable activity limitations (AAAL) and arthritis-attributable work limitations (AAWL) among US adults.^1,2

New analyses using data from the 2023 National Health Interview Survey underscore how far the country still has to go in meeting those goals. In one cross-sectional study examining adults aged 18 to 64 years with arthritis, including gout, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis, the age-standardized prevalence of AAWL was 38.8% (95% CI, 35.6%–42.2%), a figure that did not differ significantly from 2019 estimates.¹ Marked disparities were observed, with higher prevalence among Hispanic adults (50.1%), non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native adults (55.9%), individuals with disabilities (62.1%), veterans (52.5%), and those reporting poor or fair health (61.1%). A companion analysis focused on AAAL found that an estimated 24.8 million US adults with arthritis reported activity limitations in 2023, corresponding to an age-adjusted prevalence of 47.8% (95% CI, 45.0%–50.7%).² Although AAAL prevalence declined modestly from 49.2% in 2019, this change was not statistically significant, and the Healthy People 2030 target of 46.8% was not met.

RheumatologyLive spoke with study investigator Daniel White, PhD, about the rationale and implications of these findings. He emphasized that activity and work limitations offer a population-level lens on how effectively public health and clinical efforts are translating into meaningful functional improvements for people with arthritis. He noted that more than one-third of working-age adults with arthritis report work limitations, while over half experience difficulty with basic activities such as climbing stairs or rising from a chair. White highlighted that comparing 2019 and 2023 data revealed only minimal progress, reinforcing the persistent and widespread burden of arthritis-related disability. He underscored the importance of evidence-based, arthritis-appropriate interventions to move the needle toward national goals and to better align clinical care and public health strategies with the lived experiences of patients.

“We compared how we are doing as a country to our previous report of this, which was done taken in 2019 and the needle has moved a tiny bit, but it’s still way below where we need to be and what the goals were stated in the Healthy People 2030 Public Health Initiative,” White said.

References

1. White DK, Zhao F, Boring MA, Barbour KE, Fallon EA. Prevalence of Arthritis‐Attributable Work Limitations Among Adults Aged 18–64 Years With Arthritis: United States, 2023. Arthritis Care & Research. Published online October 24, 2025. doi: 10.1002/acr.25683

2. Stowe EW, White DK, Boring MA, Barbour KE, Lites TD, Fallon EA. Prevalence of Arthritis‐Attributable Activity Limitations – United States, 2023. Arthritis Care & Research. Published online December 16, 2025. doi: 10.1002/acr.70018