Written By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Updated : July 27, 2021 4:46 PM IST
October 12th is World Arthritis Day and the theme for this year is 'It's in your hands, take action'.
According to studies, arthritis affects around 180 million Indians, which is comparatively higher than the lifestyle conditions such as diabetes and diseases such as AIDS and cancer. If statistics are to be believed, around 14% of the Indian population seek a doctor s help every year for this joint disease. A recent study done by SRL diagnostics analysed 6.4 Million samples and revealed that the prevalence of arthritis rising in Indians. If this is not taken care of, then India will emerge as the capital of Osteoarthritis by 2025 with more than 60 million to be likely affected, says Dr Avinash Phadke, President, Technology & Mentor (Clinical Pathology), SRL Diagnostics. Hence, knowing about the common types of arthritis can help you to take precautionary measures to lower your risk of arthritis. Here are 5 factors that increase your risk of arthritis in future.
1. Osteoarthritis: It is the most prevalent form of arthritis with a prevalence rate of 22% to 39% in Indians. Osteoarthritis affects 15 million adults annually. However, what most Indians do not know is that it is common in women than men and the risk increases with age. Studies have shown that around 45% women over 65 years show symptoms of osteoarthritis whereas in around 70% females there is radiological evidence indicating osteoarthritis. Also read could you be at a risk of osteoarthritis?
2. Rheumatoid arthritis: The second most common type of arthritis affecting Indians is rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is an autoimmune disease, which affects the tissues around the joints. Although the exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not known, the condition can be managed if detected early. Commonly seen in adults, age group of 35- 55 years, the prevalence rate of RA in Indians is around 0.5% 1% of the population. Just like osteoarthritis, women are at a high risk than men for RA. However, in this case, women are three to four times more frequently affected than men.
3. Gout: It is one of the most common causes of inflammatory arthritis. Gout is three to four times more common in men and in people who are obese and aged 50 years or above. Here are 5 warning symptoms of gout that you should know.
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