Elders M J
Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, USA.
J Rheumatol Suppl. 2000 Oct;60:6-8.
Age is the most powerful risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA) in the United States. It is estimated that 68% of individuals older than 55 years have radiographic evidence of OA. The US is growing older--the over-65 age group represented only 4% of the population in 1900, but accounted for 12.4% in 1988, and is projected to account for 22% by the year 2030. As the age of our population has increased, so has the prevalence of arthritis. About 43 million individuals (1 in 6) have arthritis, and most are older than 45 years. By the year 2020, 59.4 million persons in the US will be affected by arthritis, thus increasing chronic disability and costs by more than 25%. The annual cost to society in medical care and lost wages is currently estimated to be $65 billion, and is projected to escalate to $95 billion by the year 2000. Physicians who provide care for the increased number of patients with arthritis in the 21st century must be aware of improved therapeutic modalities to reduce arthritis related disabilities, hospitalizations, and complications related to therapy, to minimize the risk of adverse drug reactions, and to preserve function.
在美国，年龄是骨关节炎（OA）最主要的风险因素。据估计，55岁以上的人群中，68%有骨关节炎的影像学证据。美国人口正在老龄化——65岁以上年龄组在1900年仅占人口的4%，但在1988年占12.4%，预计到2030年将占22%。随着我国人口年龄的增长，关节炎的患病率也在上升。约4300万人（每6人中就有1人）患有关节炎，且大多数年龄超过45岁。到2020年，美国将有5940万人患关节炎，从而使慢性残疾和成本增加超过25%。目前，社会在医疗护理和工资损失方面的年度成本估计为650亿美元，预计到2000年将升至950亿美元。21世纪，为数量不断增加的关节炎患者提供护理的医生必须了解改良的治疗方法，以减少与关节炎相关的残疾、住院以及治疗相关并发症，将药物不良反应的风险降至最低，并保留功能。
