Are women at greater risk of developing arthritis?
Yes. In 2007 in Pennsylvania, 44% of women had arthritis compared to 38% of men. Certain forms of arthritis are much more common in women: • Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system attacks the joint tissues. Rheumatoid arthritis affects women twice as often as men. It frequently begins between the ages of 40 and 60. • Lupus, which is considered a form of arthritis, is also an autoimmune disease. In lupus, the immune system attacks tissues and organs, including the joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, brain, blood, or skin. Lupus occurs 10 to 15 times more frequently among women than men. It develops most often between ages 15 and 44 and is two to three times more common among African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans.
