The state of arthritis in Wisconsin.

Arthritis is the leading cause of disability and functional limitation in Wisconsin and trails only heart disease as the leading cause of work disability. In 2001, the estimated prevalence of arthritis/chronic joint symptoms (CJS) among US adults was 33%, representing approximately 69.9 million adults. Wisconsin has established a statewide program to address this chronic condition. Prior to its inception, no state-based arthritis surveillance was available. The Wisconsin Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) first included questions on chronic joint symptoms and doctor-diagnosed arthritis in 2000. That data provides a baseline to describe the burden of arthritis in Wisconsin. This report summarizes the prevalence of arthritis and its distribution among Wisconsin adults. Proven public health interventions should be applied and new interventions developed to improve function, decrease pain, and delay disability among persons with arthritis, particularly those at highest risk for functional impairment and disability.