World Autoimmune / Autoinflammatory Arthritis Day

World Autoimmune/Autoinflammatory Arthritis Day is an observance day designed to raise global awareness about arthritis, other autoinflammatory diseases, and autoimmune diseases.

Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, but there are also other serious conditions that many people live with. Some of these serious conditions include Lupus and Sjögren’s Syndrome.

According to the National Institutes of Health, up to 23.5 million Americans suffer from an autoimmune condition, and those numbers seem to be rising annually. That makes a compelling argument for more people to get involved with this awareness day so that more energy can be directed toward research.

The History of World Autoimmune/Autoinflammatory Arthritis Day

This day was first created in 2012 by Public Health Maps, an organization that works toward giving people a better understanding of public health so that they can make informed decisions.

Since the creation of this day, millions of people have taken part in events for it around the world. This holiday is now on almost 30 international health calendars as well.

Important Facts About Arthritis

To help further the aim of this holiday, we decided to list some of the facts that we know about arthritis and its impact on people’s lives. Hopefully, the following facts will shed light on the importance of working towards better treatments for people living with this classification of conditions.

  • There are over 100 different types of arthritis.
  • Arthritis usually presents itself with stiffness and joint pain.
  • Experts don’t always know the cause of many types of arthritis.
  • Approximately 60 million people in the U.S. have arthritis.
  • Arthritis is the leading cause of work disability among adults in the United States.

Observing World Autoimmune/Autoinflammatory Arthritis Day

One of the most important things that people can do on this day is to learn more about autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases — particularly if they have been diagnosed with one. They should also take the time to spread the news about this day using the hashtag #WAAArthritisDay on social media.

When is it?
This year (2024)
May 20 Monday
Next year (2025)
May 20 Tuesday
Last year (2023)
May 20 Saturday
Topic
Health & Body