May is arthritis awareness month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1 in 4 adults have had a doctor diagnose them with arthritis, making it one of the main drivers of disability. Arthritis limits physical function and quality of life; additionally, it commonly co-occurs with other chronic conditions that are leading causes of death, such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, and can interfere with management of these conditions through its effects on limiting physical activity.

CDC recognizes programs (Arthritis-Appropriate, Evidence-Based Interventions (AAEBIs)) for adults with arthritis to help improve pain, function, mood, and quality of life including physical activity programs and self-management education workshops. NACDD’s Arthritis portfolio focuses on improving quality of life for adults with arthritis. NACDD is partnering with key leaders including CDC, Leavitt Partners, Comagine Health, and Dartmouth Institute to develop an arthritis care model that enhances healthcare provider awareness, knowledge, and skills in promoting self-management interventions, including physical activity and lifestyle change, as effective, drug-free ways to relieve arthritis pain and limit arthritis progression to promote health and well-being. The team convened the CDC Arthritis Expert Advisory Panel and Design Team to provide guidance on the development of this evidence-informed healthcare provider approach to conduct function, pain, and physical activity screening; patient counseling on the benefits of physical activity; and referrals to AAEBIs and other non-pharmacological interventions. The Expert Advisory Panel and Design Team will participate in design sessions throughout 2023 that will result in a high-level arthritis care model design. This arthritis care model will be piloted in at least one health system in 2024.

Check out some resources from several of the CDC-funded national partners working to improve well-being of adults with arthritis. Highlights include CDC’s Healthy Living with Arthritis podcast, Healthy People 2030 arthritis goal to reduce pain and disability from arthritis, Osteoarthritis Action Alliance’s Action Briefs, Arthritis Foundation’s Live Yes! Connect Groups, National Recreation and Park Association Elevating Health Equity Through Parks and Recreation: A Framework for Action, and Y-USA’s commitment to expand availability and participation in evidence-based programs by facilitating incubator projects among Ys delivering AAEBIs to focus on social connectedness, remote delivery, and wraparound supports. 

Learn more about NACDD’s Arthritis Portfolio and join the NACDD Arthritis Engagement Community (Quick Start Guide).

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