 |
|
|
 |
Longitudinal Analysis of a Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic Population
ALAN M. ROSENBERG
ABSTRACT. Methods. A total of 3269 consecutive referrals to the Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic, University of Saskatchewan, during the period 1981–2004 were analyzed. Results. Among 3269 patients, a diagnosis was established in 2098 (64.2%). Within this group, 72 subjects (3.4%) were determined to be healthy. Of the remaining 2026 diagnosed patients (62.0% of the total population), 1032 (50.9%) had a rheumatic disease and 994 (49.1%) a nonrheumatic disease. A diagnosis was not established in 1171 patients (35.8%). Among the 1032 patients with a rheumatic disease, 326 (31.6%) had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), 360 (34.9%) a spondyloarthropathy (SpA), and 225 (21.8%) a collagen vascular/connective tissue rheumatic disease. The remaining 121 patients with a rheumatic disease (11.7%) had a variety of other conditions. Of the 994 nonrheumatic disease patients, 37 (3.7%) with ocular inflammatory conditions had been referred to exclude an associated rheumatic disease. The remaining group of 957 patients comprised 345 (36.1%) with an orthopedic, mechanical or traumatic condition, 231 (24.1%) had an infection, 45 (4.7%) a hematologic or neoplastic disease, and 336 (35.1%) a variety of other conditions. Current clinic point prevalences for JRA, SpA, and collagen vascular diseases are 35.0, 16.9 and 17.7/100,000, respectively. The mean annual clinic referral incidences of JRA, SpA, and collagen vascular/connective tissue diseases were, respectively, 4.7, 5.2, and 1.7/100,000 children. Conclusion. Disease registries help establish the frequencies and spectrum of childhood rheumatic diseases and the role of pediatric rheumatology programs in evaluating and caring for children with a wide variety of conditions. Longitudinal disease registries aid in characterizing clinical, epidemiologic, and demographic features of childhood rheumatic diseases. (J Rheumatol 2005;32:1992-2001) Key Indexing Terms:
JUVENILE ARTHRITIS From the Section of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. A.M. Rosenberg, MD. Address reprint requests to Dr. A.M. Rosenberg, Department of Pediatrics, Royal University Hospital, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W8, Canada. E-mail: rosenberg@sask.usask.ca Accepted for publication May 20, 2005. |