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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many Canadians have arthritis?

A: As of 2005, nearly 4.4 million Canadians aged 15 years and older reported arthritis and related conditions.i

Q: How many people in Ontario have arthritis?

A: As of 2005, over 1.8 million people in Ontario aged 15 years and older reported arthritis and related conditions. ii

Q: Why do the most recent estimates only apply to Canadians 15 years and older?

A: We use the age of 15 years and older in order to be consistent with our previous research and to allow for comparisons to be made.

Q: What are “arthritis and related conditions”?; Why are all these conditions lumped together?

A: Arthritis and related conditions make up a large group of disorders affecting the joints, ligaments, tendons, bones and other components of the musculoskeletal system. All forms of arthritis and related conditions share symptoms such as pain, swelling or stiffness around the joints. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout are a few examples.iii Health surveys tend to rely on self-report, and combine arthritis and related conditions in questions assessing health status. Please see a longer list of arthritis-related diagnoses.

At ACREU, our research encompasses many of the different types of arthritis. For more information on specific types of arthritis and related conditions, see The Arthritis Society’s website.

  1. Perruccio AV, Power JD, Badley EM. Revisiting arthritis prevalence projections – it’s more than just an aging of the population. J Rheumatol. 2006; 33(9):1856-1862.
  2. Ibid.
  3. Arthritis in Canada. September 2003. Chapter 1, p. 2