On this page
Arthritis is an umbrella term for a range of inflammatory conditions affecting the bones, muscles and joints.
These conditions include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis and gout. They often result in pain, stiffness, swelling and redness in affected joints.
Arthritis is a common condition, particularly among older Australians, and is a large contributor to illness, pain and disability (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2018).
In Victoria, the prevalence of self-reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis is 20.4 per cent, with a significantly higher prevalence observed in females (25.9 per cent) compared with males (15.6 per cent) (Department of Health and Human Services 2018).
There is also an age-related increase in the prevalence of arthritis, with males and females 55 years of age or older having a significantly higher prevalence compared with all Victorian males and females (Department of Health and Human Services 2018).
Osteoporosis is a disease that makes bones become brittle, leading to a higher risk of bone fracture than in normal bone (Osteoporosis Australia 2014). This disease affects more than one million Australians (Osteoporosis Australia 2014).
In Victoria the prevalence of self-reported doctor-diagnosed osteoporosis is 5.8 per cent, with a significantly higher prevalence observed in females at 9.4 per cent compared with males at 2.3 per cent (Department of Health and Human Services 2018).
As for arthritis, there is an age-related increase in the prevalence of osteoporosis in both males and females, with a significantly higher prevalence observed in males 65 years of age or older and females 55 years of age or older compared with all Victorian males and females, respectively (Department of Health and Human Services 2018).
Find out more
The Victorian Population Health Survey 2016 has a section on cancer.
Access the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s musculoskeletal .
Arthritis has information on arthritis and its prevention.
Osteoporosis has information on osteoporosis and its prevention.
References
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2018, Arthritis snapshot Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Canberra.
Department of Health and Human Services 2018, Victorian population health survey 2016 State Government of Victoria, Melbourne.
Osteoporosis Australia 2014 About osteoporosis: What is it?, Osteoporosis Australia, Sydney.
Reviewed 10 March 2023