Fighting the fire of arthritis.
6 million Canadians have arthritis. Without action, 9 million will have arthritis by 2040.
The Arthritis Society’s bold five-year strategic plan, Accelerating Impact, will help us reach more people, fund more research, innovate and change the conversation to make a tangible impact on arthritis.
We are fighting the fire of arthritis with the fire of research, advocacy, information and support.
Research
With more than $220 million invested in research since our founding, we are blazing a path for how we can treat arthritis, prevent it and even cure it.
In 2020-2021:
$3.6M
invested in research;
$7.8M in the last two years
invested in research;
$7.8M in the last two years
32
research projects
funded
research projects
funded
43
new arthritis research
careers launched
new arthritis research
careers launched
Highlights:
- $300,000 to fund a three-year project looking at how people with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus respond to a COVID-19 infection
- $300,000 to fund a three-year project testing new smart phone technology that allows physiotherapists in urban centres to treat rural residents in their homes
Awareness and Advocacy
We are elevating awareness of arthritis as a serious disease and ensuring people have access to timely and effective care.
In 2020-21:
5,790
advocacy actions taken,
up from 2,000 the year before
advocacy actions taken,
up from 2,000 the year before
67
meetings with policy
makers took place
meetings with policy
makers took place
Top 6
Arthritis registered as the top 6th
health concern of Canadians
Arthritis registered as the top 6th
health concern of Canadians
Highlights:
- Prevented shortages of arthritis drugs being used for COVID-19 treatment
- Ensured medical cannabis was deemed essential medicine during the pandemic
- Five provincial governments committed additional funding to reduce joint replacement surgery wait times thanks to our advocacy. Read our response to the Nova Scotia budget.
Programs and Digital Services
Through our information and support programs, we are ensuring people are more resilient and empowered to thrive as they face this diagnosis.
In 2020-21:
2.1M
Canadians reached with trusted information, up from 1.7M the year before
Canadians reached with trusted information, up from 1.7M the year before
62,183
people received direct or one-on-one support through our education and information programs
people received direct or one-on-one support through our education and information programs
Highlights:
- 49,917 people registered for our Arthritis Talks webinars
- New resources were introduced on:
Meet Sandra
Fifty-eight-year-old Sandra was surprised by her osteoarthritis diagnosis 10 years ago. There’s no history of arthritis in her family and she’s always maintained a healthy diet and lifestyle. The Toronto, Ontario resident says the Arthritis Society website became her “home for a month,” where she learned how to take control of her disease. “From everything I read, and the videos I watched, I knew I could manage and overcome this.”