One in Four U.S. Adults Has Arthritis. This World Arthritis Day, the Arthritis Foundation Is Making That Number Personal

ATLANTA – October 5, 2026 – Look around your family, your workplace or your circle of friends. Chances are, someone you know is living with arthritis. 

One in four adults in the U.S. has diagnosed arthritis, meaning the disease is affecting more people in our lives than many realize. This World Arthritis Day, Oct. 12, the Arthritis Foundation is putting a face to that statistic by asking everyone to think about “the one”— the family member, friend, neighbor or coworker whose life is affected by arthritis. 

The message reflects the Arthritis Foundation’s 2026 World Arthritis Day focus on moving the conversation from “millions of people” to the people we know and care about. 

"Behind the one in four statistic are people making decisions every day around pain, mobility, work, family and the things they love to do," said Steven Taylor, president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation. "Arthritis is incredibly common, but its impact is still too often underestimated. This World Arthritis Day, we want people to recognize just how close to home arthritis really is and, most importantly, know that support, information and a community are here when they need them." 

Nearly 60 million adults and children in the U.S. are diagnosed with at least one of more than 100 types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). But arthritis is more than joint pain. It can affect a person’s ability to move, sleep, work, socialize and manage everyday activities. 

Arthritis Foundation patient research illustrates just how significant that impact can be. Nearly 90% of arthritis patients surveyed reported pain that interfered with their daily lives and activities, while two-thirds reported disruption in their ability to participate in social activities. Four out of five reported greater difficulty functioning physically than the general population, including everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs, running errands and completing household tasks.  

For Tonya Horton, “the one” is personal. 

Tonya Horton of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, was in her 40s when everyday activities like cooking, cleaning, commuting to work and navigating the stairs in her home became increasingly painful. When she was diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis at age 45, arthritis was the last thing she expected.  

"I thought I had sprained or torn something in my knee," Horton recalled of her diagnosis. After learning more about osteoarthritis, she connected with the Arthritis Foundation and found something she hadn't realized was available: a community of people who understood what she was experiencing. "Me dio un lugar para conectarme y aprender de personas que comparten experiencias similares".  

Today, Horton is an Arthritis Foundation advocate and national board member who shares her experience to help others recognize arthritis, seek care and know they don't have to navigate the disease alone.  

Tonya’s experience is one of millions, but it is her personal story that underscores the message at the heart of this World Arthritis Day: Arthritis may be closer than you think, and recognizing “the one” is only the beginning. 

Support for “the one” 

The Arthritis Foundation provides resources designed to help people throughout their arthritis journey, whether they are newly diagnosed, have been managing arthritis for years or are supporting someone they love. 

Resources include: 

• Newly Diagnosed Resources: Information to help people understand arthritis, prepare for conversations with healthcare providers and determine next steps.  

• Arthritis Foundation Helpline: Personalized support by telephone and web chat. In 2025, the Helpline responded to 11,706 inquiries in English and Spanish.  

• Connect Groups: Opportunities for people with arthritis and those who support them to connect with others who understand the experience. Last year, 2,634 people attended Connect Group meetings. Among surveyed participants, 75% said they felt more supported and 71% said they felt more connected to people like themselves.  

Beyond direct support, the Arthritis Foundation works year-round to advance research, advocate for better access to care and develop resources that help people live more fully with arthritis. 

In 2025, the Foundation secured 13 state legislative wins around priorities including cost-sharing protections, step therapy reform and access to biomarker testing. The Foundation also continued investing in research across osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis and pediatric rheumatology. 

 "The Arthritis Foundation exists because every 'one' matters," Taylor added. "If you are the one in four adults living with arthritis, know that our goal is to make sure you have access to answers, care, connection and support, and a community that is here for you every step of the way." 

This World Arthritis Day, the Arthritis Foundation encourages everyone to learn the facts, think about who “the one” may be in their own lives and share resources with someone who may need them. 

To learn more about arthritis and World Arthritis Day, visit arthritis.org/about-arthritis/world-arthritis-day. Those experiencing joint pain or navigating a new diagnosis can find additional resources at arthritis.org/newly-diagnosed.  

Acerca de la Arthritis Foundation 

La Arthritis Foundation es la principal organización sin fines de lucro dedicada a la lucha contra la artritis, la causa n.° 1 de discapacidad del país. A través de investigaciones científicas innovadoras, programas centrados en el paciente, defensa en todos los niveles de gobierno y un sólido compromiso con la comunidad, la Fundación empodera a las personas para que vivan sus vidas al máximo mientras buscan incansablemente una cura. Con presencia en comunidades de todo el país, amplificamos las voces de los afectados y trabajamos para impulsar un cambio duradero. Learn more at arthritis.org and follow @arthritisfoundation on social media. 

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