Arthritis and chronic joint symptoms affect over 65 million people in the United States, according to statistics from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Currently, that is one out of every three people and these conditions figure to become even more prevalent with the aging of the population. The CDC estimates that the number of people 65 and over with diagnosed arthritis will double from the 15.7 million that were reported in 2002 to 33.3 million in 2030.

However, despite common misperceptions, arthritis does not primarily affect senior citizens. While it is more common in older adults, the CDC points out that nearly two-thirds of those with arthritis are younger than 65. One cannot understate the impact of this condition on the lives of those who are affected. Thirty-one percent of adults with arthritis have work limitations due to the disease. Arthritis accounts for 750,000 hospitalizations and 36 million outpatient visits each year.

While these statistics paint a gloomy picture, there is some good news. Early diagnosis and appropriate management techniques, such as weight control and regular physical activity, can go a long way toward reducing the pain and disability that accompany arthritis, and help facilitate a better quality of life.

With this in mind, it is clear that nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) play a vital role as they are on the frontlines of diagnosing and managing arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions.

During the course of a day, NPs and PAs elicit important details in the patient history, emphasize the importance of exercise and nutrition in reducing painful arthritis symptoms, and prescribe an appropriate medication for patients who have prescriptions for other ailments. Given the impact of NPs and PAs in combating the symptoms of arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions, we have created a magazine that is specifically tailored to their needs.

Arthritis Practitioner will offer pertinent columns and informative features with an easy to read, active voice tone and an eye-catching design. Our goal is to make it easier for readers to quickly obtain clinical pearls and practice management insights from articles and put them into use.

With this in mind, our debut issue offers the timely cover story, “NSAIDs: Where Do We Go From Here”, the pertinent panel discussion in our “Osteoarthritis Q&A” column and a review of emerging therapies in the feature article “What You Should Know About New Antirheumatic Medications”, just to name a few highlights.

Please let us know your thoughts on the first issue. We look forward to providing the most informative and practical publication in the field.