How common is rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is fairly rare.
- About 1 in every 100 people in the United States have rheumatoid arthritis.1 That means that about 2.1 million Americans have the disease.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is more common among older people than younger people. As people get older, their chances of having the disease increase.
- Almost three times as many women as men have rheumatoid arthritis.
- The number of new cases of rheumatoid arthritis has gone down in the United States in the past few years, but we don't know why.1
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This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice.
Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
