Number of women with RA increasing

CHICAGO The finding comes after four decades of retreat in women, while the trend remained stable among men.

The condition common in the wrists and fingers is an inflammatory type of arthritis that leads to joint pain, swelling, stiffness and joint damage.

Scientists presenting the numbers at a meeting of the American College of Rheumatology in San Francisco say the increase is significant.

The findings suggest that approximately 1 percent of people in the U.S. had rheumatoid arthritis.