Arthritis Cases Among Missouri’s Elderly On The Rise

State health officials report a significant jump in the number of Missourians whose activities are limited by arthritis are dismayed at the number of Missourians who don’t know help is available. A survey conducted by the State Health Department discloses 13-percent more Missourians report arthritis limits their activities than did in 1999. Department Director Richard Dunn calls the statistics troubling. Equally troubling to Dunn is the lack of awareness of the state’s seven regional arthritis centers located in Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, St. Joseph, Columbia, Kirksville and Cape Girardeau. More than one-and-a-half-million Missourians suffer from arthritis, with nearly 600,000 who report their activities have been limited by the disease.