State Statistics

State-Specific 2015 BRFSS Prevalence Estimates

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is the best source for state-specific arthritis prevalence estimates. BRFSS is a state-based, random-digit-dialed telephone survey of the non-institutionalized, civilian US population aged 18 years or older. The survey is administered in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and three territories. Since 1996, selected states have been collecting information on arthritis through BRFSS.

Starting with the 2003 BRFSS and continuing in odd-numbered years, all states collected information on arthritis. Different questions were used to collect data from 1996 through 2001 and from 2002 to present. In 2002, the case definition of arthritis also changed. Beginning in 2002, CDC's Arthritis Program has focused on doctor-diagnosed arthritis only. Additional survey changes were made in 2011. The 2011 BRFSS data reflect a change in weighting methodology (raking) and the addition of cell phone only respondents. For these reasons, it is not valid to look at trends that cross from 2001 into 2002 or from 2010 into 2011 and later. Also, beginning in 2012, the arthritis case definition has been collected annually, while other arthritis information continues to be collected in odd-numbered years.

Thus, 2011 is the new baseline for data trends, and prior years should not be incorporated in any trend analysis using 2011 data to present. Read more about the BRFSS arthritis-specific questions and the arthritis case definitions.

State Data Tables

CDC’s Arthritis Program analyzed BRFSS arthritis data for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam. View state-specific state arthritis data from the 2011, 2013, and 2015 BRFSS on our state data tables pages.