From Staff Reports

Adult arthritis sufferers across North Carolina may soon find some relief thanks to a substantial grant focused on treating populations disproportionately impacted by the condition, according to a recent press release from UNC Asheville.

"The $2,050,000 in grant funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is part of a five-year cooperative agreement with the North Carolina Center for Health and Wellness at UNC Asheville to address the burden of arthritis across the state," the release stated. "This is the largest award received by NCCHW to date, and among the larger grant awards" received by a UNCA entity.

More than 27 percent of adults in North Carolina suffer from some form of arthritis, with many experiencing severe joint pain and limitations in their ability to perform or enjoy daily activities. And for those who reside in a rural area, are older than 55, or have a second condition like diabetes, obesity, or cardiovascular disease, the prevalence of arthritis could be closer to 50 percent of adults.

Despite its widespread presence, arthritis is typically an overlooked chronic condition, according to Nadia Mazza, an NCCHW public health researcher, educator and project manager who is passionate about promoting wellness among adults and will serve as the principal investigator and project manager of this CDC arthritis grant.“It is not something that people think about as urgent or deathly, so I think it's often overlooked. But people are suffering from it, it's limiting their work activities, it's limiting their play activities, and it's impacting their mental health. We have a lot of data to show that this is hurting people's livelihood and quality of life,” Mazza said.

The NCCHW’s State Public Health Approaches to Addressing Arthritis project aims to sustainably build and promote Arthritis-Appropriate, Evidence-Based Interventions statewide. According to the CDC, AAEBIs are community-based programs, such as physical activity programs or chronic disease self-management programs, that have been shown to improve arthritis symptoms, the release stated.

Grant funding will allow AAEBIs to be offered at no cost to the participant. The funds are not restricted to any county or region, so the project can focus on the populations most affected in North Carolina: rural residents, older adults, and those with obesity, cardiovascular disease or diabetes.Additionally, as a result of this award, NCCHW will hire two new positions – a Public Health Specialist of Evidence-Based Programs and a Public Health Advisor of Clinical Partnerships – to support this project. 

Project goals include training up to 50 new leaders in the community, enrolling at least 3,000 adults in AAEBIs, and generating at least 50 referrals from healthcare providers to AAEBIs per year. 

To accomplish this, the project will partner with the NC Division of Adult and Aging Services and the 16 Area Agencies on Aging across the state, as well as other community-based organizations, large employers, and healthcare providers, the release noted.