Donate Now

Arthritis Is Canada's Most Common Chronic Disease

More than 6 million Canadians live with arthritis and rheumatic diseases.
It's not just joint pain. It's a group of complex, chronic diseases that can affect anyone at any age.

Arthritis isn’t one disease. There are more than 100 types of arthritis. It affects children and seniors, men and women, and people of every background across Canada. Yet it remains one of the most misunderstood health conditions in the country.

Whether you’ve just received a diagnosis or want to understand what arthritis really is, this page gives you some of the facts.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is a broad term for more than 100 diseases that cause pain and inflammation in the joints — and sometimes in other parts of the body, including vital organs like the lungs, heart, brain or kidneys. They are chronic diseases, meaning symptoms persist or come and go over months, years, or a lifetime.

Arthritis and auto-immune rheumatic diseases include diseases like  osteoarthritis — the most common type of arthritis — and auto-immune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and vasculitis, and crystal arthritis like gout. 

Each type affects the body differently, but all share one thing: they are serious but treatable.  Getting the right care at the right time allows people to live full, active lives.

What arthritis is NOT:

  • A normal part of aging that everyone gets
  • Just mild aches and pains
  • A disease that affects only older people
  • Something you simply have to learn to live with, without treatment

Who gets arthritis?

The short answer: anyone. Arthritis does not discriminate by age, gender, or background.

  • 6 million+ Canadians currently live with arthritis. That’s more than those living with heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, and dementia combined
  • 1 in 5 Canadians has a disabling form of arthritis that affects their ability to do daily tasks
  • Half of them are under the age of 65
  • Children and teenagers can develop arthritis, too
  • 67% of people with arthritis are women, making it the most reported chronic condition for women in Canada
  • Arthritis is three times more common in Indigenous Peoples, who also face greater barriers to care and worse health outcomes

 

Risk factors include family history, previous joint injuries, excess weight, infections, and autoimmune conditions. But arthritis can develop without any of these, which is why awareness matters.

What are the symptoms of arthritis?

Symptoms vary depending on the type of arthritis.

Common symptoms of arthritis:

  • Joint pain 
  • Joint stiffness and swelling with many types of arthritis
  • Reduced ability to move the joints, loss of flexibility
  • Fatigue
  • Involvement of other parts of the body

Osteoarthritis symptoms tend to include:

  • Pain that worsens with activity and eases with rest
  • Stiffness in the joints
  • Reduced flexibility or ability to move the joints over time

Inflammatory arthritis symptoms (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis) tend to include:

  • Persistent joint pain, even at rest, that is often worse in the morning
  • Prolonged stiffness, especially after immobility  
  • Joints that feel warm and may be swollen 
  • Deformities of the joints due to joint damage when inflammation is not treated on time
  • Fatigue 
  • Involvement of other parts of the body, like the eyes, lungs, heart, bowels, and skin

How is arthritis diagnosed and treated?

If you’re noticing persistent or frequent pain in your joints, talk about it with your healthcare provider. Getting an early diagnosis is key, so treatment can be started early, before joint damage occurs. This gives you the best chance of successful treatment of your arthritis and leads to better long-term health outcomes.

Your provider:

  • Will ask you about your symptoms and examine your joints 
  • May use X-rays or other imaging
  • Will order blood tests 

You may also be referred to a rheumatologist, a specialist in arthritis and rheumatic diseases.

Treatment plans are personalized and can include:

  • Medications to stop the inflammation and pain
  • Physical therapy and exercise programs
  • Splints and other aids to help with daily activities
  • Mental health support
  • Lifestyle adjustments
  • Surgery, in some cases

The right plan depends on your type of arthritis, your symptoms, and your life. Work closely with your healthcare team to find the approach that works best for you.

Is there a cure for arthritis?

There is no cure for most types of arthritis, but there are very effective treatments for most forms. With the right care, at the right time, most people with arthritis can live full, active lives.

Research is changing what arthritis means for millions of Canadians.

Arthritis Research Canada conducts world-class clinical research to prevent arthritis, find better treatments, improve arthritis care and health outcomes, so people with arthritis across Canada can stay active, independent, and do the things they love with family and friends.

Learn how our research is making a difference
Support our work