Key takeaways<\/h2>\n\n- \n
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease causing cartilage wear, affecting hands, knees, spine, and hips. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition targeting wrists, hands, knees, and can also impact the heart, lungs, and eyes.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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OA is the most common form of arthritis with over 32 million adults in the U.S. affected, including 80% of adults over 55. RA affects about 1% of the global population, with women being three times more likely than men to develop it.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Diagnosis for both OA and RA involves physical exams, medical history, lab tests, and imaging like X-rays and MRI. It is important to diagnose RA within the first six months, so patients can begin treatment to slow disease progression.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Treatment options for both conditions may include medications, therapy, and possibly surgery.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Osteoarthritis vs. rheumatoid arthritis causes<\/a> | Prevalence<\/a> | Symptoms<\/a> | Diagnosis<\/a> | Treatments<\/a> | Risk factors<\/a> | Prevention<\/a> | When to see a doctor<\/a> | FAQs<\/a> | Resources<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nMost people know of arthritis as a condition that causes joint pain and inflammation, but there are actually different types of arthritis that people can develop. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are two of the most common types of arthritis, and they affect people in different ways. Osteoarthritis affects the hands, knees, spine, and hips, while rheumatoid arthritis mainly affects the wrists, hands, and knees. Let\u2019s take a look at the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nCauses\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\nOsteoarthritis<\/span><\/h3>\nOsteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (<\/span>CDC<\/span><\/a>). Sometimes osteoarthritis is called degenerative joint disease because it causes joint cartilage on the ends of bones to wear down over time. Inflammation or injury causes the cartilage to wear down, and eventually, the underlying bones start to change. This process causes pain and swelling in the finger joints, knees, hips, spine, or toes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nRheumatoid arthritis\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease causing cartilage wear, affecting hands, knees, spine, and hips. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition targeting wrists, hands, knees, and can also impact the heart, lungs, and eyes.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
OA is the most common form of arthritis with over 32 million adults in the U.S. affected, including 80% of adults over 55. RA affects about 1% of the global population, with women being three times more likely than men to develop it.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Diagnosis for both OA and RA involves physical exams, medical history, lab tests, and imaging like X-rays and MRI. It is important to diagnose RA within the first six months, so patients can begin treatment to slow disease progression.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Treatment options for both conditions may include medications, therapy, and possibly surgery.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Osteoarthritis vs. rheumatoid arthritis causes<\/a> | Prevalence<\/a> | Symptoms<\/a> | Diagnosis<\/a> | Treatments<\/a> | Risk factors<\/a> | Prevention<\/a> | When to see a doctor<\/a> | FAQs<\/a> | Resources<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Most people know of arthritis as a condition that causes joint pain and inflammation, but there are actually different types of arthritis that people can develop. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are two of the most common types of arthritis, and they affect people in different ways. Osteoarthritis affects the hands, knees, spine, and hips, while rheumatoid arthritis mainly affects the wrists, hands, and knees. Let\u2019s take a look at the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (<\/span>CDC<\/span><\/a>). Sometimes osteoarthritis is called degenerative joint disease because it causes joint cartilage on the ends of bones to wear down over time. Inflammation or injury causes the cartilage to wear down, and eventually, the underlying bones start to change. This process causes pain and swelling in the finger joints, knees, hips, spine, or toes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nCauses\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
Osteoarthritis<\/span><\/h3>\n
Rheumatoid arthritis\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n