Objectives: This article reports incidence rates of arthritis, based on data for people aged 40 or older who were followed over six years. The association between excess weight and arthritis, controlled for possible confounders, is also studied.
Data sources: Data are from the household components of cycle 1.1 of Statistics Canada's Canadian Community Health Survey (2000/01) and from the first four cycles of the National Population Health Survey (1994/95 to 2000/01).
Analytical techniques: The prevalence of arthritis in 2000/01 was estimated using cross-sectional data; 1994/95-to-2000/01 incidence density is based on longitudinal data. Logistic regression was used to study the association between excess weight and arthritis (respondent-reported, doctor-diagnosed), while controlling for age, household income, smoking, number of physician consultations, strenuous daily activity, and other factors.
Main results: In 2000/01, 19% of men and 31% of women aged 40 or older reported having been diagnosed with arthritis. Incidence rates of arthritis were 31 and 48 cases per 1,000 person-years for men and women, respectively. For both sexes, the odds ratio for obesity (based on self-reported height and weight) in association with subsequent arthritis was significantly elevated, at 1.6.