Arthritis Society Canada is shedding light on the true cost of arthritis in Canada through a new report.

The report was conducted by Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis and adds costs from both economic loss and social value loss. The economic loss is mainly based on medical care costs. Social value loss has not been accounted for in other reports and reflects the dollar-equivalent in wellbeing loss associated with pain, disability, reduced participation, lower independence, and lower life satisfaction.

The report claims that Canada spends $142 billion every year on arthritis. The economic burden was $45.9 billion and the social value loss from arthritis was $96.5 billion. The numbers aren’t expected to slow down either. The report predicts that the cost of arthritis in the country will increase to $222.3 billion by 2055.

Saskatchewan also loses big when it comes to arthritis, spending $4.1 billion on the issue every year.

Trish Barbato, President and CEO of Arthritis Society Canada, says the social value loss for Saskatchewan alone is $2.7 billion annually.

“There’s over 200,000 people in Saskatchewan who have arthritis. It ends up being about 1 in 5.”

Barbato had some recommendations for people looking to help their cause at Arthritis Society Canada and identified certain issues in the province that make things difficult for people with arthritis.

For people wanting to help with the cause, they can go to the Arthritis Society Canada website to volunteer or submit a letter with their own experience with arthritis. Barbato also mentioned that programs, such as the GLA:D program out of Denmark, exist and have seen great success when used by people with arthritis.

When it comes to what the province can change, Barbato says a lack of community education or care and the long wait times for surgery are the biggest issues.