A call to action: Innovative national activities to address osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. Nearly one in ten adults has OA, a joint disease that is one of the leading causes of disability in the US. This number is expected to increase as baby boomers age and the number of older adults also increases. OA prevalence increases with age and rises to one-third of adults aged ³65 years. OA pain, or fear of pain, inhibits physical activity and can interfere with the management of other chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Despite this, OA prevention and control have been relatively unaddressed public health issues. In 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Arthritis Foundation, and over 70 stakeholders developed the first ever nationwide goals that specifically address OA. A National Public Health Agenda for Osteoarthritis (OA Agenda) is a blueprint for action identifying ten recommendations to help close gaps in OA intervention availability, access and quality by guiding future research, policy, and programs. Emerging from the OA Agenda, the OA Action Alliance is a coalition that allows stakeholders to collectively work on a national platform to advance policy, system, and environmental change strategies that aim to reduce the burden of OA for the millions of adults with this chronic condition. This session will highlight the burden of OA and its impact on chronic disease management, provide an overview of the OA Agenda and its recommendations, and introduce session participants to the mission and activities of the OA Action Alliance.