Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Prevalence of Patients With Arthritis and Severe Joint Pain and Who Received Provider Counseling About Physical Activity for Arthritis Among Adults Aged 18 Years or Older—United States, 2019

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study examined the racial/ethnic differences in self‐reported doctor‐diagnosed arthritis, severe joint pain, and provider counseling for physical activity among US adults with arthritis.MethodsWe estimated prevalence by race/ethnicity among 31,997 adults aged ≥18 years in the 2019 National Health Interview Survey. We used multiple logistic regression models to investigate associations between outcomes and race/ethnicity.ResultsCompared with non‐Hispanic White adults (22.9%), we found a significantly higher age‐adjusted prevalence of arthritis among American Indian/Alaska Native adults (30.3%). Among adults with arthritis, higher age‐adjusted prevalence of severe joint pain among American Indian/Alaska Native (39.1%), non‐Hispanic Black (36.4%), and Hispanic adults (35.7% versus 22.5% [White]) and higher provider counseling for physical activity among non‐Hispanic Black adults (58.9% versus 52.1% [White]) were observed and could not be fully explained by differences in socioeconomic factors, body mass index, depression history, and comorbid conditions. Additional models also containing inability to pay medical bills and food insecurity did not explain racial/ethnic differences.ConclusionsOur findings highlight a need for multi‐level interventions to mitigate social and environmental barriers to physical activity and eliminate disparities in arthritis and severe joint pain.