Rheumatology Advance Access originally published online on May 11, 2006
Rheumatology 2006 45(12):1549-1554; doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kel140
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Prevalence and management of rheumatoid arthritis in the general population of Greece—the ESORDIG study
1Rheumatic Disease Epidemiology Section, Hellenic Foundation for Rheumatological Research, 2Third Department of Internal Medicine, Athens University Medical School, Sotiria Hospital, 3Rheumatology Department, 3rd IKA Hospital, 4IKA Health Center, Halandri and 5DEH Health Center, Athens, Greece.
Correspondence to: A. Andrianakos, Hellenic Foundation for Rheumatological Research, 8 Rodon Street, Kantza Pallini Attikis, 153 51 Athens, Greece. E-mail: eire{at}otenet.gr
Objective. To assess the prevalence and management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the general adult population of Greece.
Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted on the total adult population (
19 yrs old) of seven communities (8547 subjects), and on 2100 out of 5686 randomly selected subjects in two additional communities. 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. Diagnosis of RA was based on the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1987 criteria.
Results. A total of 8740 subjects participated (response rate 82.1%). RA was diagnosed in 59 individuals. The prevalence of RA was 0.68% (95% CI 0.51–0.85); it was significantly higher in females than males (P< 0.0005), and increased significantly with age up to and including the 50–59-yr-old group (P< 0.002), and then decreased slightly. On their first medical visit, 19% (95% CI 9.7–30.9) of the RA patients had consulted a rheumatologist, while during the first year after disease onset, 61% (95% CI 48.6–73.4) had done so. Early consultation with a rheumatologist and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) combination therapy were negatively associated with ACR functional classes II–IV [adjusted odds ratios 0.18 (95% CI 0.04–0.85) and 0.17 (95% CI 0.04–0.72), respectively].
Conclusions. The prevalence of RA in the general adult population of Greece is similar to that in many other European countries; early consultation with a rheumatologist and DMARD combination therapy are associated with a better RA outcome.
KEY WORDS: Rheumatoid arthritis, Prevalence, Epidemiology, Management, Greece
In addition to the authors, the following physicians are members of the ESORDIG study group: P. Dantis, D. Karamitsos, G. Kaziolas, L. Kontelis, K. Pantelidou, E. Vafiadou.
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