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Prevalence of Rheumatoid Arthritis in the South-Transdanubian Region of Hungary Based on a Representative Survey of 10,000 Inhabitants
CSABA G. KISS, CSILLA LÖVEI, GÁBOR SÜTÖ, CECÍLIA VARJÚ, ZOLTÁN NAGY, ZSUZSANNA FÜZESI, TAMÁS ILLÉS, and LÁSZLÓ CZIRJÁK
ABSTRACT. Methods. Ten thousand individuals aged between 14–65 years were interviewed. The stratified sample was representative for age, sex and urban/rural residence structure of the regional population of the South-West Hungarian region. As a second step, all individuals with possible RA were asked to undergo a clinical investigation to confirm the diagnosis of RA according to the American Rheumatism Association (ARA) 1987 criteria. Of 10,000 interviewed individuals, 632 reported having RA or symptoms including digital pain, stiffness, and/or swelling. Two hundred and twenty-four individuals were investigated clinically. Individuals fulfilling the 1987 ARA criteria were considered as having definite RA, and their clinical data were evaluated. Results. RA was confirmed in 13 cases. The male/female ratio was 3/10. The prevalence of RA among individuals aged 14–65 years was 0.37% (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.26–0.51), 0.23% (95% CI: 0.15–0.35) in men and 0.48% (95% CI: 0.35–0.64) in women. Conclusion. The prevalence of RA in the South Transdanubian region of Hungary is similar to those of other recent studies from other regions around the world. (J Rheumatol 2005;32:1688-1690) Key Indexing Terms:
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
From the Departments of Immunology and Rheumatology and Orthopedic Surgery, Medical School, Hungarian Brothers of St. John of God and University of Pécs; and the Fact Institute of Applied Social Science Research, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary. Supported by a national NKFP grant (1/026/2001); the Hungarian Ministry of Health, Social and Family Affairs; and by the National Foundation for Scientific Research grants (OTKA T26429, OTKA T043017, ETT 643/2003). C.G. Kiss, MD; C. Lövei MD; G. Sütö MD, PhD; C. Varjú, MD; Z. Nagy MD; L. Czirják, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Immunology and Rheumatology; Z. Füzesi MD, PhD, Fact Institute; T. Illés, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery. Address reprint requests to Dr. C.G. Kiss, Hungarian Brothers of St. John of God and University of Pécs, Medical School, Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, H-7621 Pécs, Irgalmasok u. 1., Hungary. E-mail: csaba.kiss@aok.pte.hu Accepted for publication May 17, 2005. |