Joint Pain Is Common Among Adults Over Age 50
A national poll of randomly selected adults ages 50 to 80 found that 70% reported experiencing joint pain at least occasionally and 60% had been told by a healthcare professional that they have arthritis. The poll was conducted by the University of Michigan using online and phone surveys of 2,277 people (published September 2022). Among those with diagnosed arthritis, 30% had osteoarthritis, 8% had rheumatoid arthritis, 7% had gout or pseudogout, and 5% had another kind of arthritis, while 29% were not sure what type of arthritis they had. Among those with joint pain, about 45% said they experience pain every day and 49% said it limited their usual activities. Two-thirds of those with joint pain reported using over-the-counter pain relievers, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen (Tylenol®). Only 40% recalled their doctor discussing potential risks associated with these medications
