ARTHRITIS PROGRAM

FY2019APPROPRIATIONS FACT SHEET CENTERS FORDISEASE CONTROL ANDPREVENTION

FY 2017 / FY 2018 / FY 2019 President’s Budget / FY 2019 Request
$11,000,000 / $11,000,000 / $* / $16,000,000

*This budget line is proposed for consolidation in the America’s Health Block Grant.

Arthritisisa leading causeofwork-related disability in the United States.It limitstheactivitiesof22.7 million Americans, bypreventingthemfromdoing things like climbing stairs orwalkingmore thanshortdistances. 43% of the working adult population with arthritis (aged 18-65 years) report symptoms that may limit the type or amount of work they do, or may prevent them from working at all. People can manage and reduce the symptoms ofarthritis through self-management programs, physical activity, and weight loss.But effective interventions for arthritis aredrasticallyunderutilized.CDC provides leadership, technical expertise, and cutting-edge science in collaboration with state health departments, national organizations, and universities toimprovethe health and well-being of people with arthritis.

BasicFacts about Arthritis

  • Arthritis affected54millionAmericans in 2013-2015,overonein fiveadults,reflecting a net increase of about 1 million people per year.By2040,thatnumberisexpectedtorisetonearly78million.Nearlytwo-thirdsof people with arthritis are under65 years old.
  • Abouthalfofadultswithdiabetes(47%)orheartdisease(49%)andone-thirdofobeseadultsalso havearthritis.Physicalactivityisacrucialelementofmanagingtheseconditions,andarthritispresents uniquebarriers toincreasingphysicalactivity, thuscompoundingthese chronicdiseases.

Cost ofArthritis

  • In 2013, arthritiscosts intheU.S. $304 billion peryear, nearly$140 billionin directmedicalcostsand $164billion in lostearnings. Thesecostsareexpectedtoincreasesubstantially becauseof theaging populationand increasesin obesityand physicalinactivity.

QualityOfLifeCanBe ImprovedForPeople withArthritis

  • Effectiveinterventionsforarthritisaredrasticallyunderutilized.Self-managementeducationprograms havebeendemonstratedtoimprovehealthstatusand increasehealthbehaviors, whilephysicalactivity hassignificantbenefits forpeoplewith arthritis. Inaddition, weightcontroland injury prevention addressed intheseprograms can lowerrisksandimprove symptoms.
  • Morewidespreaduseofevidence-basedinterventionsbyincreasingaccessandavailabilitycouldimprove the qualityoflifeformillionsofpeople with arthritis.
  • Earlydiagnosisand managementcan decreasedisability associated witharthritis.

CDC's ArthritisProgram

  • CDCcurrentlyfunds12statestoimplementanddisseminateeffectivepublichealthapproachestoaddress arthritis.Forexample,usingCDCstatearthritisfunding,theUtahStateDepartmentofHealthis partnering with the University of Utah Community Clinics to deliver the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) througha system of more than 12 clinics.
  • CDCworkswithnationalpartnerstodisseminate evidence-basedprogramsthroughnationalnetworks andsystemsof care.Since2011theYMCA,throughapartnershipwithNACDDand theCDC,beganto offertheevidence-basedEnhanceFitness™intervention toadultswitharthritisinYMCAsin8 statesand isnowoffering this interventionnationwide throughitsnationalnetwork ofstate associationsandlocal branches.AsofOctober 2015,EnhanceFitness™hasbeendisseminatedto221sitesin37states.CDCand NACDDare also partneringwiththeNationalRecreation and ParksAssociation to implementtheAF ExerciseProgramand Walkwith Easeinlocalparkagencies to increase the reachofthese interventions. Thus farthese interventionshave been offered in more than 70localparks and recreation agencies, withplans to expand.
  • CDCconductssurveillanceandepidemiologicalanalysestoassesstheburdenofarthritis,includingthe impactondifferentpopulationgroupsandthosethatmaybeunderserved. CDCalsoconductsresearch toevaluatenewmodesof physicalactivityandself-managementawarenessandpromotion forpeople with arthritisto ensure theneweststate ofthescienceand the maximumreach foreffective programs.

With the launch of the NationalPublic Health AgendaforOsteoarthritis in early 2010,CDCandstakeholders haveacontinuingcommitmenttoimproving quality oflifeforpeoplewitharthritis.Using provenstrategiesof self-managementeducation,physicalactivity,injury preventionandweightmanagement,publichealthcanhelp achieve healthierlives formillionsofAmericans.With an increase of $5 million over the FY 2017 level, CDC’s Arthritis program would be able to:

  • Improve access and availability of proven interventions for people with arthritis by funding a total of 15 state health departments and 5 national organizations to disseminate effective public health approaches through large systems of care, worksites, and national networks with local sites for implementation.
  • Advance the cause of the National Public Health Agenda for Osteoarthritis to elevate OA as a national health priority by leveraging public and private funding through the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance.

Formore information, visit:

Contact:AmySouders, Cornerstone GovernmentAffairs.(202)488-9500 or