• Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and more than 100 other forms of inflammatory conditions affect several hundred million people worldwide. This figure is set for a sharp increase due to the predicted doubling in the number of people over age 50 by the year 2020.

• Joint diseases are the leading cause of disability in the USA and account for half of all chronic conditions in persons age 65 and over.

• Osteoarthritis affects over 135 million people worldwide. It is the fourth most frequent cause of health problems in women worldwide and the eighth in men.

• Rheumatoid arthritis affects over 20 million people worldwide.