Millions more Americans are suffering from arthritis than their doctors realize, a new study reports.
Affecting more than one third of adults, rates of arthritis have even outpaced the obesity epidemic, which may in part be fueling the surge in arthritis symptoms.
Depending on age and gender, between 13 and 20 percent of adults report symptoms of arthritis, but have never been diagnosed by their doctors, according to the new study from Boston University.
The study found that arthritis was 68 percent more common than previous estimates, suggesting that evaluations for the condition may be insufficient.
