The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has decreased among total shoulder (TSA) and elbow (TEA) arthroplasty patients, according to a recent study, which also cited a nonsignificant decline among total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) patients. Furthermore, the average age of total joint arthroplasty (TJA) patients with RA is beginning to mirror those without RA and sex ratios for TSA, TEA, and TAA patients are following a similar pattern. These results may be evidence of the success of modern RA treatment strategies. The US Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2002–2012) was used to identify the incidences TSA, TEA, knee (TKA), hip (THA), and TAA arthroplasty and the proportion of these performed with coexisting RA. Researchers found:

• The prevalence of RA among patients with TJA increased 3.0%.
• The prevalence of RA among cases of TEA and TSA decreased by 50% and 18%, respectively; a 38.0% decrease occurred in the prevalence of RA among TAA; and nonsignificant increases were seen among THA and TKA.
• The average age difference between RA and non-RA patients undergoing TJA narrowed by 2 years.