4-2

4-2. Arthritis prevalence

In 2017, around a quarter (22.8%) of South Australians aged 18 years or more were living with arthritis¹.
The rate varies between local health networks (LHNs) from 15.4% in the Riverland Mallee Coorong LHN to 28.2% in the Northern Adelaide LHN.
There is no statistically significant difference between the Country SA rate of 23.0% and the metropolitan Adelaide rate of 22.7%¹.
No statistically significant underlying trend over the last decade in the proportion of people reporting living with arthritis was identified in the metropolitan Adelaide or Country SA time series¹.

4-2-1

Data source: SA Health 2018

In 2017, the proportion of the population aged 18 years and over that was living with arthritis was higher for females (27.8%) than males (17.6%)¹.
Arthritis prevalence is also correlated with age¹.

4-2-2

Data source: SA Health 2018

In 2017, there was no statistically significant correlation between the proportion of people aged 18 years and over who are living with arthritis and the socio-economic status (SES) of the geographic area in which they live¹.
However, the rate in the lowest SES quintile (26.9%) is around double the rate in the highest SES quintile (14.2%)¹.

4-2-3

Data source: SA Health 2018

Data presented here is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ 2014-15 National Health Survey for people of all ages reporting living with arthritis. This is not directly comparable with data presented from the state-wide survey for ages 18 years and over in 4-2-1 to 4-2-3 above.
The national survey reports figures that broadly corroborate the statewide figures, showing that an estimated 15.2% of the age-standardised population in South Australia are living with arthritis².
The South Australian rate is a little higher than the Australia-wide estimate (13.9%) and is at the top end of the range of rates for the states and territories, although it is lower than that for Tasmania².

**Arthritis prevalence (all ages), 2014–15 (age-standardised)**
State/Territory	%
Northern Territory	10.2%
Western Australia	12.3%
Queensland	12.4%
Australian Capital Territory	13.6%
Victoria	13.7%
New South Wales	14.7%
South Australia	15.2%
Tasmania	19.3%
Australia	13.9%

4-2-4

Data source: ABS 2015

The 11.2% of Aboriginal people in South Australia who reported living with arthritis was above the national average for Aboriginal people of 9.5%³.
Arthritis prevalence for Aboriginal people varied between states and territories, with South Australia ranked equal third highest with New South Wales³.
The rate for Aboriginal people in South Australia during 2012-13 (11.2%) is below the 14.6% for all persons in South Australia recorded in 2011-12 (see 4-2-4 above)³.

**Arthritis prevalence - Aboriginal people (aged 15+ years), 2012-13**
State/Territory	%
Northern Territory	5.5%
Western Australia	6.5%
Queensland	8.5%
Australian Capital Territory	9.6%
New South Wales	11.2%
South Australia	11.2%
Victoria	12.8%
Tasmania	15.3%
Australia	9.5%

4-2-5

Data source: ABS 2013

Based on South Australian Monitoring and Surveillance System customised extract 2018, Prevention and Population Health, SA Health, Adelaide, 16 August 2018.
Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS 2015), ‘Table 2.3 Summary health characteristics — States and territories, Proportion of persons’, National Health Survey: First Results, 2014-15, cat. no. 4364.0.55.001, viewed 6 June 2016.
Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS 2013), 'Table 3.3 Selected health characteristics by State/Territory,' Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health survey: First results 2012-13, cat. no. 4727.0.55.001, viewed 4 February 2014.