Severe Joint Pain Among Adults With Arthritis

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Arthritis-related severe joint pain affects adults of all ages, both sexes, and all races and ethnicities. Most of what we know about severe joint pain is for adults. The age-standardized prevalence of severe joint pain among adults with arthritis varies by state, ranging from 20.8% in Colarado to 45.2% in Mississippi.1 

In 2017 in the United States, severe joint pain prevalence among adults with arthritis was: 

  • Higher among women (36.0%) than men (27.3%). 1
  • Highest among adults aged 45 to 64 years  (35.6%).1 Prevalence was next highest for adults aged 18 to 44 years (33.0%) and lowest for adults aged 65 years or older (25.1%).1
  • Highest among non-Hispanic Blacks ( 50.9%), followed by Hispanics and American Indian/Alaska Natives, (both 42.0%), then Other/Multiple Races (37.4%) and Asians (27.7%), and lowest among non-Hispanic whites (27.4%).1
  • Highest among obese (37.2%) compared to overweight (28.6%) and underweight adults (29.1%).1
A map showing state specific percentages of severe joint pain among US adults with arthritis.

Text description of map available.

  • Severe joint pain is more common among adults with arthritis who also have other chronic conditions including diabetes (40.9%) and heart disease (34.1%), and among adults with a disability (45.6%).2
  • More than half (56.3%) of adults with arthritis and serious psychological distress reported having severe joint pain.2
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References
  1. Guglielmo D, Murphy LB, Boring MA, et al. State-Specific Severe Joint Pain and Physical Inactivity Among Adults with Arthritis – United States, 2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2019;68(17):381-387. Published 2019 May 3. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6817a2.
  2. Barbour KE, Boring M, Helmick CG, Murphy LB, Qin J. Prevalence of severe joint pain among adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis—United States, 2002–2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;65(39):1052–1056.