Alarming Numbers

In 1997, arthritis was thought to affect 1 in 5 adults in the country. Now a new survey of 212,000 people from all 50 states, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reveals that arthritis affects far more people. The actual figure is 1 in 3 adults, a result 63% higher than in the 1997 survey. It means that a total of 69.9 million people?nearly 27 million more than previously projected?have the condition. ?We just think that?s alarming in terms of the number,? said Tino Mantella, president of the Arthritis Foundation. The numbers are expected to rise as the baby boomers age. The survey results can be seen at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5142a2.htm.