In The Right Direction Arthritis affects one in every seven people, one in every three families. Facts About Arthritis Chances are that you or someone you know has arthritis. Arthritis affects about 37 million Americans. That's one in every seven people, one in every three families.
Arthritis is a serious disease that causes pain and loss of movement.
It is usually chronic. This means that it can last, off and on, for as long as a lifetime. There are a hundred kinds of arthritis affecting many different parts of the body. Joints are most often affected. People of all ages, including children and young adults, can develop arthritis.