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Prevalence of Rheumatic Diseases in Greece: A Cross-Sectional Population Based Epidemiological Study.
The ESORDIG Study
ALEXANDROS ANDRIANAKOS, PANAGIOTIS TRONTZAS, FOTIS CHRISTOYANNIS, PETROS DANTIS, COSTAS VOUDOURIS, ATHANASIOS GEORGOUNTZOS, GEORGE KAZIOLAS, ELIZABETH VAFIADOU, KYRIAKI PANTELIDOU, DIMITRIOS KARAMITSOS, LEONIDAS KONTELIS, PETROS KRACHTIS, ZOUBOULIO NIKOLIA, EVAGGELIA KASKANI, ELPINIKI TAVANIOTOU, CHRISTOS ANTONIADES, GEORGE KARANIKOLAS, and ANASTASIA KONTOYANNI
ABSTRACT.
Methods. This cross-sectional population based epidemiological study of rheumatic diseases in Greece (the ESORDIG Study) was conducted on the total adult population of 2 urban, one suburban, and 4 rural communities (8547 subjects), as well as on 2100 out of 5686 randomly selected subjects in one suburban and one rural community. The study, based on a standardized questionnaire and clinical evaluation and laboratory investigation when necessary, was carried out by rheumatologists who visited the target population at their homes. Either established classification criteria or criteria set for the purposes of the study were used for diagnosis. Results. A total of 8740 subjects participated in the study (response rate 82.1%). The overall age and sex adjusted prevalence (prevalenceasa) of rheumatic diseases in the total target adult population was 26.9% (95% CI 26.2–27.6), being significantly higher among women (33.7%) than men (19.9%) (p < 0.0005). Disease prevalenceasa increased significantly with age (p < 0.0005). The most common disease group was low back pain, with a prevalenceasa of 11.0%, followed by symptomatic peripheral osteoarthritis (7.9%), neck pain (4.8%), miscellaneous rheumatic disorders (4.4%), soft tissue rheumatism disorders (4.3%), and inflammatory rheumatic disease (2.1%). Logistic regression analysis showed a significant positive association of female or male sex, age ³ 50 years, high body mass index, low level of education, moderate or heavy alcohol consumption, and high socioeconomic level with particular diseases or disease groups. Conclusion. These findings indicate rheumatic diseases are very common in the general adult population of Greece; 26.9% of adults currently have active or chronic rheumatic disease in remission. (J Rheumatol 2003;30:1589-601) Key Indexing Terms:
PREVALENCE
From the Rheumatic Disease Epidemiology Section, Hellenic Foundation for Rheumatological Research, Athens, Greece. A. Andrianakos, MD; P. Dantis, MD; G. Karanikolas, MD, Rheumatic Disease Epidemiology Section, Hellenic Foundation for Rheumatological Research; P. Trontzas, MD; A. Georgountzos, MD, Department of Rheumatology, 3rd Hospital of IKA, Athens; F. Christoyannis, MD, IKA Health Center, Agrinio, Aetoloakarnania; C. Voudouris, MD; P. Krachtis, MD, Department of Rheumatology, St. Paul's Hospital, Thessaloniki; G. Kaziolas, MD, IKA Health Center, Helioupolis, Athens; E. Vafiadou, MD, IKA Health Center, Giannitsa, Pella; K. Pantelidou, MD, Private Practice, Kilkis; D. Karamitsos, MD, A. Kontoyanni, MD, Department of Rheumatology, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens; L. Kontelis, MD, Private Practice, Kavalla; Z. Nikolia, MD, DEH Health Center, Athens; E. Kaskani, MD, IKA Health Center, Chalandri, Athens; E. Tavaniotou, MD, IKA Health Center, Pyli Axiou, Thessaloniki; C. Antoniades, MD, Department of Rheumatology, Asklepieion Hospital, Voula, Athens. Address reprint requests to Dr. A. Andrianakos, 8 Rodon Street, 153 51 Kantza Pallini Attikis, Greece. E-mail: eire@otenet.gr Submitted May 15, 2002; revision accepted December 19, 2002. |