Arthritis is the number one cause of disability in Hawai'i and the nation.
Fortunately, research has yielded a better understanding of the many types of arthritis and the many effective ways to prevent it and its complications. With these grants we can start applying this knowledge. The burden of arthritis, both physical and financial, in Hawai'i and country is enormous and increasing. One in six people now have arthritis and it is expected that by the year 2020, almost 20 percent of the population will be affected. With the new arthritis funds, the DOH's Health Promotion and Education Branch will begin working with partners in communities to raise public awareness that arthritis is the leading cause of disability, and steps can be taken to both prevent it and reduce related disability.