- 19% of Aboriginal people living off-reserve in Canada report having arthritis. If the Aboriginal population had the same age composition as the overall Canadian population, this rate would be 27%.
- 1% of the total population of Canada lives with rheumatoid arthritis compared to nearly 5% of the aboriginal population.
- Aboriginal people living off-reserve who have arthritis are significantly more likely to report activity limitations than non-Aboriginal Canadians with arthritis. Aboriginal people with arthritis tend to experience more serious symptoms, and are more likely to be disabled by their disease.
- First Nations and aboriginal Canadians living in rural and remote areas face great challenges when seeking diagnosis, treatment, and care for arthritis and related conditions.
Aboriginal people