Low prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in the urbanized Chinese of Hong Kong.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the urbanized Chinese of Hong Kong.


METHODS
2000 adults in 2 housing blocks were screened using a structured interview. Those who screened positive had an examination, rheumatoid factor analysis and radiographs taken. Subjects were classified using the Rome, New York and 1987 ACR criteria (modified and unmodified) for RA.


RESULTS
The prevalence of RA, using the modified 1987 ACR criteria, was 0.35%. This is significantly lower than published data for European Caucasians (standardized morbidity ratio = 0.27; 95% CI 0.09-0.63).


CONCLUSIONS
RA is rare in urbanized Chinese.
Lau
E
E
ARC Epidemiology Research Unit, Medical School, Manchester, UK.
Symmons
D
D
Bankhead
C
C
MacGregor
A
A
Donnan
S
S
Silman
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006225:Hand / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis; D014504:Urban Health
D012217:Rheumatoid Factor