What is Rheumatoid Arthritis and How Does it Affect People?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease, which means that your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in your body, leading to inflammation (painful swelling) in the affected parts of the body. RA mainly attacks the joints, often affecting multiple joints simultaneously, such as those in the hands, wrists, and knees.

Español (Spanish) is available for more comprehensive insights. Featured Topics include The Arthritis-Mental Health Connection, Managing Arthritis in Rural Areas, and why Arthritis is on the Rise. You can find information about various types of arthritis, such as Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Gout, Lupus, and more, at the Arthritis Types section of the CDC.

During 2019–2021, 21.2% of U.S. adults (approximately 53.2 million) reported being diagnosed with arthritis. Notably, about half (52.2%–62.4%) of adults aged ≥65 years with self-reported diagnosed dementia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stroke, heart disease, diabetes, or cancer also reported a diagnosis of arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is not only a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects the joints, but it can also damage a wide variety of body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels. It is a condition that occurs when your immune system wrongly attacks your own body’s tissues. Unlike Rheumatoid Arthritis, Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis that is very painful and usually affects one joint at a time, often the big toe joint.

The annual cost of arthritis, in terms of medical spending and lost wages, amounts to $303.5 billion. The CDC’s Approach includes measuring how many people are affected by arthritis, collecting data through the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and the National Health Interview Survey. These surveys provide vital information that helps in understanding and combating the disease.

For a detailed exploration of Rheumatoid Arthritis, its symptoms, and causes, you can visit the Mayo Clinic’s page on the topic. Additionally, you can learn more about arthritis in general by visiting the Arthritis page on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.