Abstract
PURPOSE Our goal was to monitor the progress of 3 Healthy People 2010 (HP2010) objectives encouraging self-management education and clinician counseling for weight loss and physical activity among adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis.
METHODS Using the national 2002 and 2006 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and state-based 2003 and 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), we estimated the change in proportion of persons counseled for each objective, overall and by selected characteristics.
RESULTS Nationally, the proportion of overweight and obese adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis who were counseled by their clinician to lose weight to lessen their arthritis symptoms increased significantly from 35.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 32.8%–37.2%) in 2002 to 41.3% (95% CI, 38.7%–44.0%) in 2006 but have yet to reach the 2010 target of 46%. There was no change in the proportion of adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis who had ever taken a self-management education class (approximately 11%) or who had been counseled to engage in physical activity (approximately 52%), whose targets for 2010 are 13% and 67%, respectively. States had variable findings.
CONCLUSIONS Nationally, significant progress has been made by clinicians for weight counseling of overweight and obese adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis but not for the other 2 arthritis management objectives. Because clinician counseling can have important effects on the latter, this discrepancy suggests a need to focus on barriers to physician counseling for these outcomes.
- Arthritis
- counseling
- overweight
- obesity
- physical activity
- self-management education
- NHIS
- BRFSS
- Healthy People 2010
INTRODUCTION
Arthritis is one of the most common chronic conditions found in the US population. It currently affects 46 million US adults1 and is projected to increase 45% by 2030.2 It is the most common cause of disability in the United States, substantially affecting a person’s quality of life as a result of work and activity limitations, which subsequently affects the economy.3,4
Professional health care groups5–8 recommend targeting 3 areas of arthritis management: weight counseling of overweight and obese patients, physical activity counseling, and self-management education. Being overweight or obese is common (66%)9 among adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis, and evidence shows that losing weight can diminish disability.10 Physical activity is recognized to reduce pain and disability and to increase function,11–13 whereas self-management education for arthritis has been shown to improve the health of an adult with doctor-diagnosed arthritis by 15% to 30% more than medication alone.14 To monitor intermediate steps necessary to address these 3 areas successfully, 3 arthritis objectives (weight counseling among persons who were overweight and obese, physical activity counseling, and arthritis education) were included in Healthy People 2010 (HP2010), the nation’s health objectives. These objectives require that by 2010, the proportion of adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis having had arthritis education reach 13%, and those receiving counseling for physical activity reach 67% and for weight counseling (among those overweight or obese) reach 46%. Because of their nonpharmacologic, noninvasive approach, these recommendations were anticipated to be well received by primary care physicians,15 who handle more than 50% of arthritis clinic visits.16
In 2002–2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) first analyzed data dealing with these 3 HP2010 arthritis management objectives by using the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and the state-based Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance (BRFSS) survey.17 This analysis updates national progress toward targets for the 3 arthritis management objectives overall and by selected characteristics.
METHODS
We used data on adults aged 18 years and older with doctor-diagnosed arthritis from the 2002 and 2006 NHIS to make national estimates and from the 2003 and 2007 BRFSS to make state-based estimates. Each survey used identical questions to monitor the 3 HP2010 arthritis management objectives. Data collection procedures and survey instruments are approved by the CDC Institutional Review Board annually.
Survey Designs and Data
Details about the survey structure and sample design of NHIS and BRFSS can be found online and in print.18,19 In brief, the NHIS is an annual, in-person survey designed to be representative of the civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the United States. BRFSS is an annual, state-based random-digit-dialed telephone survey designed to be representative of the civilian, noninstitutionalized adults aged 18 years and older of each state.
Measures
Doctor-diagnosed arthritis was defined as a yes answer to the following question: “Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you have some form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, or fibromyalgia?” Those answering yes were then asked about weight counseling, physical activity counseling, and arthritis education.
The national prevalence of adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis was calculated by using the NHIS civilian, noninstitutionalized population as the denominator. For both NHIS and BRFSS, the proportions reported receiving physical activity counseling and arthritis education were calculated by using the total number of respondents who had doctor-diagnosed arthritis as the denominator. The proportion reporting receiving weight counseling was calculated by using the total number of respondents with doctor-diagnosed arthritis who were overweight or obese as the denominator. Proportion estimates for each objective were calculated for the overall target population for subgroups characterized by the following self-reported characteristics: age, sex, race/ethnicity, education level, body mass index, physical activity levels, and arthritis-attributable activity limitation. Physical activity and inactivity levels were defined by participation in any leisure-time physical activity assessed by 6 questions on frequency and duration of leisure-time physical activity. Persons with doctor-diagnosed arthritis were classified as having arthritis-attributable activity limitation if they answered yes to the question: “Are you now limited in any way in any of your usual activities because of arthritis or joint symptoms?”
Statistical Analyses
Prevalence and proportion estimates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by using statistical weights in SUDAAN (RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina) to account for the complex sample designs of both NHIS and BRFSS. To be consistent with HP2010 procedures, weighted NHIS and BRFSS data were age-standardized (18–44, 45–64, and 65 years and older) to the projected 2000 US population.19 We analyzed proportion differences between baseline and follow-up by conducting z tests for 2 proportions.
RESULTS
The reported prevalence of doctor-diagnosed arthritis was 20.7% of US adults, using age-standardized 2006 NHIS data (Table 1). As seen in other studies, a higher prevalence of doctor-diagnosed arthritis was observed in older adults, women, and those who were overweight or obese, whereas a lower prevalence was observed in those of Hispanic or other race/ethnicity.1–3
Nationally, the proportion of weight counseling of overweight and obese adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis improved significantly from 2002 to 2006 (P <.001). This improvement was driven largely by the increase observed among those who were obese (Table 2), who comprised approximately 50% of the group in both years. The receipt of weight counseling was highest among those aged 45 to 64 years and among those who were women, obese, or non-Hispanic black in 2006 (Table 1). The proportion of physical activity counseling of adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis showed no statistically significant change (Table 2), with a higher proportion observed among Hispanics and those who were obese (Table 1). The proportion of arthritis education of adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis also showed no statistically significant change (Table 2), with no particular pattern observed by selected characteristics (Table 1). Adults with arthritis-attributable activity limitations were significantly more likely to have received all 3 interventions than those without. Differences within educational and physical activity levels were minimal to none for all 3 objectives. State-level results can be viewed in Supplemental Table 1a and Table 1b, available online at http://annfammed.org/cgi/content/full/9/2/136/DC1.
Estimated Age-Standardized, Weighted Prevalence of Adults Aged 18 Years and Older With Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis and the Proportion of Those Adults Meeting Healthy People 2010 Arthritis Management Objectives, by Selected Characteristics: National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2006
DISCUSSION
These analyses of self-reported data indicate that statistically significant improvement has been made at the national level in clinician weight counseling of obese, but not overweight, adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis, making the HP2010 target of 46% within reach. No significant improvement was seen in physical activity counseling or arthritis education.
Estimated Age-Standardized, Weighted Proportion of Adults Aged 18 Years or Older With Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis Who Had Each of 3 Interventions, and the Healthy People 2010 Targets—National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2002 and 2006
Counseling for weight loss by clinicians was also more common for those who were women, persons aged 45 to 64 years, non-Hispanics blacks, and those who had arthritis-attributable activity limitations (Table 1). These findings for clinician weight counseling are supported by studies done by Fontaine et al and Mehrota et al who, in addition, found that overweight and obese respondents were significantly more likely to report trying to lose weight if they had received weight-loss advice than if they had not.21,22 Weight counseling is important because weight loss of approximately 13 pounds has been shown to significantly reduce self-reported disability of adults with knee osteoarthritis.10 Although weight counseling is nearing the national target of 46%, only 20% of overweight adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis were being advised to lose weight in 2006, leaving considerable room for further improvement.
The lack of progress in clinician counseling for physical activity by people with diagnosed arthritis is problematic for 2 reasons: physical activity is well documented in reducing joint pain, and counseling by clinicians is one of the strongest predictors of higher physical activity levels of adults with arthritis.8 Several barriers to physical activity counseling by clinicians have been identified, including insufficient time during an appointment, unclear and nonspecific billing procedures, low reimbursement for physical activity counseling, lack of confidence in prescribing appropriate exercises,23,24 and limited awareness of local evidence-based programs.25 Nevertheless, overcoming these barriers is important since several counseling interventions have been shown to be effective for increasing patients’ physical activity levels.26–29 Although additional research would be needed to fully understand the current obstacles and barriers that primary care physicians are facing in counseling, training staff other than physicians (eg, nurses, medical assistants, health educators) to provide physical activity counseling either in the office setting or by telephone has been shown to be an effective alternative.30,31 Lack of confidence in prescribing exercise can be addressed by referrals to physical therapy or local community-based physical activity programs that are safe and effective for people with arthritis.11
The lack of progress in arthritis education is a missed opportunity as well. Studies show that arthritis self-management education programs can result in small to moderate reductions in pain and disability at little risk of adverse effects.32–35 The American College of Rheumatology6 is one of many organizations5,7–8 that recommend integrating patient self-management education as part of the counseling regime for patients with osteoarthritis so that patients can fully understand their conditions, their health outcomes, and what they can do to improve their quality of life. Through educational interventions, patients will be able to better manage their arthritis, reduce their pain and other symptoms, and improve their overall well-being.
Our findings are subject to limitations. First, all variables used in our analysis were self-reported rather than objectively measured. Our case finding question for doctor-diagnosed arthritis has been found to have sufficient validity for population surveillance purposes.36 Height and weight may be misclassified because of social desirability (ie, women underreporting their weight, men overreporting height, etc) so proportion estimates for overweight and obese categories may be underestimated.37 Second, these Healthy People objectives may have an implied assumption that the specified intervention is relatively recent, whereas the survey questions used ask about having ever received counseling or taken an educational course or class—an indefinite time. This time discrepancy may have resulted in overestimated proportions. Finally, educational courses or classes were not further defined, so what these terms may represent in respondents’ minds is unclear. Although these limitations imply that proportion estimates may be under- or overestimated, the limitations have been consistent throughout the duration of the study and likely do not affect the longitudinal trends we are reporting.
Our findings also show several strengths, including the use of a nationally generalizable survey identical to that used by HP2010 data monitors. Other strengths include a large sample size to increase precision in our results and arthritis-specific questions.
These HP2010 objectives track factors important in achieving the public health outcomes recommended by a variety of professional organizations for people with arthritis. The progress observed for weight counseling of obese adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis is encouraging, although the overall proportion currently being reached remains far below the ideal. Lack of progress for physical activity counseling and arthritis education is discouraging. Both are important in arthritis management, because self-management skills, including regular physical activity, are essential to reducing arthritis pain and disability and improving quality of life. Because most office visits for arthritis and related conditions are with primary care physicians,16 they can have an important effect on helping their patients and achieving these HP2010 objectives. Primary care physicians do not need to do it alone, however; using ancillary staff and referring to local resources (Supplemental Appendix 1, available online at http://annfammed.org/cgi/content/full/9/2/136/DC1) can help address these issues without substantially adding to a physician’s workload.
Footnotes
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Conflicts of interest: authors report none
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Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Presented at the BRFSS Conference, March 20–24, 2010, San Diego, California.
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Support: This study was supported in part through a cooperative agreement between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research, fellowship identification # T-19/19-CCD07-001, FOA # CDHM05049.
- Received for publication April 16, 2010.
- Revision received August 30, 2010.
- Accepted for publication September 21, 2010.
- © Annals of Family Medicine, Inc.
