Arthritis Study 2020: living life to the full

Author Gill Shaffer Last updated 14th February 2020

• Science & Research

As the British population gets older, we know that more and more people are having to cope with the impact of a long-term health condition.

Arthritis is already one of the most common chronic complaints in the country, affecting around 10 million people. Many people deal with it on a day-to-day basis, so we decided to run a survey on the topic.

Conducted with the help of polling firm Atomik Research, this arthritis survey reveals exactly how people living with the painful condition feel about it, and what they are doing to keep their lives on track.

The results are fascinating. They show that many people are still dealing with the worst aspects of the condition after many years, simply because they haven’t found a treatment that works for them.

More than half of our respondents have accepted pain as part of their everyday life. The good news is that many of them are open-minded about finding a solution.

Research methodology

An online survey was conducted on our behalf by Atomik Research among 1,001 respondents from the UK who were suffering from arthritis and aged 50 and over. The research fieldwork took place between 12th December 2019 and 1st January 2020.

Here are some of the results that we think are most revealing about the condition:

What is the main reason you are currently struggling with arthritis?

Survey prompt	Agreeing
I have tried different medications and although they help a little, I still suffer	27%
I don’t want to take addictive painkillers that could have side effects	12%
It’s an inevitable part of getting older so I deal with it	31%
Medication doesn’t help arthritis	9%

How frequently do your symptoms negatively affect your life?

Survey prompt	Agreeing
Constantly	17%
Every day	35%
Several times a week	27%

How does living with the pain of arthritis make you feel?

Survey prompt	Agreeing
Old	46%
Depressed	29%
Frustrated	50%
Isolated	11%
Grumpy/irritable	39%

Do you find yourself doing any of the following things less as a result of living with arthritis?

Survey prompt	Agreeing
Sleeping well	54%
Exercising	57%
Driving	16%
Playing with my grandchildren	21%

When suffering with arthritis, have you ever felt the following?

Survey prompt	Agreeing
People think I am just old	31%
People get frustrated as it takes me longer to do things	22%

What is your attitude to Ibuprofen and your pain levels?

Survey prompt	Agreeing
I try not to take it	46%

What is your perception of using natural remedies to help with your arthritis?

Survey prompt	Agreeing
I would consider trying them	47%