04-24318. Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

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Proposed Project

ACHES (Arthritis Conditions Health Effects Survey)—New—National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background

Arthritis and other rheumatic conditions are among the most prevalent diseases and are the most frequent cause of disability in the United States. Health care costs for arthritis were estimated at $86.2 billion for 1997. In 2001, an estimated 33% of U.S. adults (70 million) reported prior diagnosis of arthritis or chronic joint symptoms. As the U.S. population increasingly “grays,” the economic and disability burden from arthritis will only grow.

Fortunately, arthritis can be successfully managed and its impacts lessened. Exercise, weight loss, medications, joint replacement surgeries and educational and sociobehavioral interventions can decrease pain as well as improve physical function and quality of life. Ultimately, this will reduce health care costs. Unfortunately, relatively little is known nationally about persons with arthritis or chronic joint symptoms to better target these interventions. Current national health surveys and databases have extremely limited coverage about arthritis and the myriad of issues surrounding the conditions.

CDC plans to conduct ACHES (Arthritis Conditions Health Effects Survey) to close the information gaps about arthritis. ACHES is a national random digit dial telephone survey dedicated solely to arthritis for the purpose of gathering information on symptoms, limitations, physical functioning levels, effects of arthritis on work, knowledge and attitudes about arthritis, self management of arthritis, current physical activity, anxiety, depression, and demographics of 4,500 persons age 45 years and older with arthritis. 2,250 respondents will be interviewed each year in this two-year study. The information from it will be used to better direct and target national arthritis control efforts. There are no costs to respondents. The approximate annualized burden is 1,750 hours.

Respondents	Form name	Number of respondents	Number of responses/respondent	Avg. burden/response (in hrs.)
Adult	Screening & Consent	12,500	1	3/60
Adult ≥ 45 years with arthritis	Survey Instrument	2,250	1	30/60

Dated: October 26, 2004.

B. Kathy Skipper,

Acting Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.