Joint diseases such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and more than 100 other forms of inflammatory conditions affect several hundred million people worldwide. This figure is set for a sharp increase due to the predicted doubling in the number of people over age 50 by the year 2020.
Joint diseases are the leading cause of disability in the United States and account for half of all chronic conditions in persons age 65 and over.
Osteoarthritis affects over 135 million people worldwide. It is the fourth most frequent cause of health problems in women worldwide and the eighth in men.
Rheumatoid arthritis affects over 20 million people worldwide.
