Arthritis is the second most common
cause of early retirement
- and is costing billions
What’s in this article
5 minute read
Arthritis affects more than just joints – it impacts lives, livelihoods, and communities. With over 4 million Australians living with arthritis, including thousands in rural and remote areas, Dr Sarah Burns challenges the myths and spotlights the realities. Her article explores the physical, emotional, and financial toll of arthritis, and highlights the urgent need for better support, earlier diagnosis, and accessible care.
Arthritis Australia estimates that around 4.11 million people live with arthritis in Australia today. This equates to one in seven people in the general population. Arthritis is often incorrectly thought of a condition that affects only an older population. In reality, it is the second most common cause of early retirement in Australia. It is estimated that 52,000 people between the ages of 15-64 years old are unable to work due to arthritis.
Arthritis is a term used to describe painful inflammation and stiffness in one or more joints. Osteoarthritis (OA), commonly referred to as “wear and tear” damage, is the most common joint condition worldwide. It is typically seen in older populations and linked to strenuous physical work and repetitive activities. This is the condition that most people think of when they think of ‘arthritis’. There are however several other types of arthritis that can affect a range of ages.
Inflammatory arthritis is a term used to describe a group of conditions where joint damage occurs as a result of autoimmune conditions. This includes, but is not limited to, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Whilst these conditions result in joint pain and swelling, they can also cause wider systemic symptoms such as skin rashes, eye inflammation, fatigue and hair loss. These are typically the type of arthritis that affects younger populations.
There are misconceptions surrounding arthritis, and many do not understand the financial cost and the psychological impact a diagnosis of arthritis can have.
In Australia there are many challenges that face those living with arthritis, and with recent projections showing that numbers of sufferers will continue to rise, we must think of new ways to support and enable people to live a fulfilling and rewarding life.
Financial cost
In 2020-21, an estimated $4.3 billion of expenditure in the Australia health system was attributed to osteoarthritis, representing 2.9% of total health system expenditure. The vast majority of this cost is from joint replacement surgeries, with an estimated 53,500 knee replacements and 35,500 hip replacements carried out in 2021-21.
Arthritis is also the second most common cause of early retirement in Australia. This estimated cost to the government is $1.1 billion a year in extra welfare payments and lost taxation revenue.
There is also a huge financial cost to individuals living with arthritis. The cost of repeated medical appointments, allied health appointments and prescriptions can easily add up. In 2021, one study found that the median spend for individuals over 6 weeks was $1635. We can somewhat safely assume that these costs have risen since 2021 in the context of the cost of living crisis seen throughout Australia.
Recent projections suggest that by 2040 the number of people affected by arthritis in Australia will rise to 5.39 million. The cost to the government and individuals will continue to soar if we do not consider measures to support people living with arthritis.
Arthritis Australia have advocates for additional funding into community based exercise and education programs, as well as investment into providing affordable access to allied health services, may help offset these rising costs.
Recent projections suggest that by 2040 those
affected by arthritis in Australia will rise to 5.39 million.
Arthritis in rural and remote communities
To fully appreciate the impact that arthritis has on rural and remote communities in Australia, consider the circumstances that face people and healthcare workers living and working in these areas.
A diagnosis of osteoarthritis has long been linked with repetitive, physical, strenuous work such as farming, labouring and construction. In 2020, the University of Sydney, Oxford and Southampton published the biggest meta-analysis and systematic review of knee OA, looking at 71 studies and almost 1 million patients. Floor-layers, brick layers and carpenters were around 2.5 times more likely to develop OA compared to sedentary workers. Agricultural and construction workers were over 60% more likely to develop knee OA. Whilst the employment landscape changes across all of Australia, with work becoming more and more sedentary, there is still a sizeable proportion of people working physically demanding jobs who are at risk of developing OA at earlier ages.
For inflammatory arthritis, early diagnosis is key to improving outcomes. With no cure available for many of the inflammatory arthritis, the mainstay of treatment is prevention of joint damage. Research has shown time and time again that people living in rural and remote areas wait longer to see GP’s and specialists compared to those in urban areas. These people are at risk of poorer outcomes such as delay in diagnosis, debilitating pain, and loss of earnings.
Living with Arthritis
It is a common misconception that arthritis is an inevitable part of ageing or that it only affects “old” people. This can make it an isolating and frightening experience for the many “young” people who are diagnosed with arthritis in Australia every year.
Symptoms of arthritis include joint pain, stiffness and swelling particularly in the morning. On a day to day basis, this can cause immense difficulties in completing basic tasks such as dressing yourself, cooking and cleaning. This can subsequently affect individuals emotional and mental wellbeing as they struggle with tasks previously found easy. Time off work can be common during flares and can lead to premature retirement from work altogether.
Some treatments of inflammatory arthritis can cause issues with fertility making it difficult for young couples to start a family.
Many of us will have limited experience and understanding of arthritis and the challenges that can arise following a diagnosis. The future can be a scary and unknown concept for people following a diagnosis who may have concerns regarding their ability to continue work, maintain relationships and start a family.
World Arthritis Day was established in 1996 to raise awareness about arthritis. Nearly 30 years later, we continue to fight misconceptions and advocate for better access to healthcare. With continued research and effort, we can continue to improve outcomes for a disease that will impact almost all of us at some point.
Dr Sarah Burns is a graduate from the University of Dundee Medical School in Scotland. She has a long-standing interest in public health and addressing the many health inequities seen in rural communities.
