Clinical arthritis associated with positive radiological and serological findings in Finnish adults.
The Mini-Finland Health Survey was designed to analyse the epidemiology of major public health problems. The study covered a representative sample of the Finnish population aged 30 years or over, and initially comprised 8,000 people. Serum rheumatoid factor was determined in 7,124 cases (89%). There were 138 cases of clinical arthritis in the series, corresponding to a prevalence of 1.9% (1.0% in males and 2.7% in females). Fifty-nine of the cases (0.8% of the population) were seropositive, and 50 cases (0.7%) had in their hand radiographs changes characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis. Twelve of the X-ray positive cases were seronegative. One-half of these proved to be seroconversion cases or rheumatoid variants typically seronegative, such as early-onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland.
K
K
Aho
M
M
Heliövaara
K
K
Sievers
J
J
Maatela
H
H
Isomäki
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis; D012737:Sex Factors
D012217:Rheumatoid Factor