Some recent studies have suggested that the overall number of new cases of rheumatoid arthritis may actually be going down.
Rheumatoid arthritis occurs in all races and ethnic groups.
Although the disease often begins in middle age and occurs with increased frequency in older people, children and young adults also develop it.
Like some other forms of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis occurs much more frequently in women than in men.
Rheumatoid arthritis occurs two to three times more often in women than in men.
Scleroderma is more common in women than in men.
Nine out of 10 people who have lupus are women.
Nine out of 10 people who have fibromyalgia are women.
Gout is more common in men than in women.
Lupus is three times more common in African-American women than in Caucasian women.
Ankylosing spondylitis is more common in men than in women.
About two to three times as many women as men have the disease.
Paralumun New Age Village