One in two people with arthritis said their condition impacted their ability to work. Of these, nearly four in ten people have stopped work due to their arthritis.
Millions of people with arthritis are not receiving timely diagnoses or adequate treatment and left to face avoidable pain and often unable to work, according to a report by the charity, Arthritis UK (formally Versus Arthritis).
Arthritis affects one in six people and is a leading cause of disability, yet the condition remains largely misunderstood and many with the condition are not receiving the care and support they urgently need. As a result, people with arthritis are living with levels of pain, fatigue, mental health challenges and financial strain, according to the report that publishes today.
Arthritis UK has worked with YouGov to survey around 8,000 people representative of the population affected by this condition. It has revealed that of the people surveyed, one in two (50%) said that arthritis had impacted their ability to work. Of these, nearly four in ten people (39%) have stopped work due to their arthritis and over a third of retired people (35%) said arthritis played a part in their decision to retire.
Left Waiting, Left Behind: The Reality of Living with Arthritis
Left Waiting, Left Behind: The Reality of Living with Arthritis presents the reality of living with the condition through lived experiences and personal stories, and shows that the impact of arthritis is unequal with people from lower social grades reporting worse experiences from all areas of life.
It concludes that people with arthritis face widespread challenges in accessing effective treatment and support, long delays to secure a diagnosis and lack of treatment options once a diagnosis is made.
More investment, improved services and better training for frontline healthcare professionals are urgently needed to avoid further adversely impacting the lives, relationships and work opportunities of this large group.
The report’s other key findings include:
- nearly one in three people (32%) surveyed say arthritis severely or very severely impacted their life in the past year.
- six in ten people (60%) are living in pain most or all the time due to their arthritis.
- one in three people (36%) surveyed felt their condition was not well managed.
- nearly one in two people (48%) who have seen a healthcare professional felt their symptoms were not taken seriously or were underplayed when they were trying to identify their arthritis.
- nearly one in two people (46%) reported their ability to exercise was affected severely or very severely by their arthritis symptoms – even though being active can be important in preventing other long-term conditions.
- seven in ten (71%) younger adults (those aged 18 – 44) felt other people didn’t understand the impact arthritis has on their life.
People in lower social grades, younger adults and those with autoimmune inflammatory conditions are disproportionately impacted by arthritis, facing greater challenges across all areas of life and more frequent barriers, the report identifies.
The survey found of those who reported arthritis having an impact on their ability to work, 28% of those in higher social grades reported stopping work due to arthritis compared to nearly half (49%) of respondents from lower social grades.
People with arthritis are being financially squeezed as the condition can increase the personal cost of living, while impacting the ability to earn. Arthritis affects every aspect of life, from physical health to relationships and mental health, with barriers to effective care are preventing people from living the lives they want to lead, the report concludes.
Download the reportDeborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Arthritis UK, said:
“Too many of the 10 million people with arthritis are being left unsupported and left to face daily pain, without timely diagnosis and adequate treatment. This erodes their quality of life and damages the prospect of economic growth. This report shows us that huge numbers of people with arthritis are falling out of work and risk being pushed into poverty. The further tragedy is that much of this is avoidable.
“Arthritis is grossly misunderstood, with diagnoses too often delayed or absent. We must tackle the misconception that arthritis is an inevitable part of ageing and improve the diagnosis rates and the treatment available, especially as the number of people with arthritis increases*. We are sitting on a ticking timebomb of costs that the country will struggle with if it is not properly identified as a major risk to public health.
"One of the many reasons arthritis must be considered a major risk to public health is it is a gateway condition, increasing the risk of other serious diseases like cardiovascular disease and depression. We cannot afford to miss or mistreat arthritis as it can be a warning sign that patients could accumulate other conditions, and with more rapid progression."
Arthritis UK has called for improved training for frontline healthcare professionals to enable more timely diagnosis and to improve support for people with arthritis. Children and young people all too frequently experience delays in diagnosis, in particular. It has also concluded that Governments across the UK must prioritise arthritis and muscular skeletal conditions.
About Arthritis UK
Arthritis UK was previously known as Versus Arthritis and has changed its name and look following consultation with people with the condition. This research showed that the new name would improve visibility and ensure more people are aware of the information and support that Arthritis UK offers, which will lead to more people with arthritis being supported to live the lives they want to live.
Arthritis UK provides hands-on support services and advice, trains healthcare professionals throughout the NHS, and is the largest dedicated funder of arthritis research globally.