Social and economic impact of inflammatory arthritis.

The inflammatory arthritides place a substantial burden on society with direct healthcare costs and indirect costs due to reduced productivity and social function. These progressive conditions cause significant pain, joint destruction, and reduced function, and therefore also place a substantial disease burden on affected patients and their families. This article reviews the epidemiology, social impact, and disease costs associated with 3 common inflammatory arthritides--rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis.