Hand handicap and rheumatoid arthritis in a fish-eating society (the Faroe Islands).
In the county of Klaksvik, the Faroes, a simple hand test was used for screening all inhabitants between the ages of 40 and 74 years. With its high sensitivity and specificity it revealed a diagnostic panorama entirely different from that seen in previous investigations in other nordic countries. In Klaksvik the prevalence of hand handicap was about 40%, which is due to the high incidence of osteoarthrosis. The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis was 1.1%. The high functional capacity and the lower occurrence of rheumatic nodules and erosions found in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis as compared with previous studies suggest that the disease takes a milder course in Klaksvik. This should support the hypothesis that RA patients benefit from a diet rich in fish.
Recht
L
L
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Lund, Dalby, Sweden.
Helin
P
P
Rasmussen
J O
JO
Jacobsen
J
J
Lithman
T
T
Scherstén
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002980:Climate; D003718:Denmark; D004032:Diet; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology