Prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in Tucumán, Argentina.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Tucumán, Argentina.


METHODS
The study was conducted between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 1999, in Tucumán province in northwest Argentina. Outpatient and hospitalization medical records for all patients with RA aged > or = 16 years were reviewed. Diagnosis was by 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for RA and the population data were based on the 1991 national census. Prevalence rates, with 95% CI, were calculated using the number of San Miguel de Tucumán residents who fulfilled the 1987 ACR criteria for RA as numerator, and the city population aged > or = 16 as denominator. Crude and age-specific prevalence rates were calculated as number of cases/1,000 inhabitants.


RESULTS
We identified 695 cases of RA. Sex-specific and overall prevalence rates (per 1,000) were 1.97 (95% CI 1.8-2) for all, 0.6 (95% CI 0.49-0.73) for men, 3.2 (95% CI 2.9-3.5) for women.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of RA is low in residents of Tucumán, Argentina, and comparable with rates observed in epidemiological surveys from Southern European countries.
Spindler
Alberto
A
The Tucamán Rheumatology Society and the Rheumatology Postgraduate Department, School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Argentina. albertospindler@hotmail.com
Bellomio
Verónica
V
Berman
Alberto
A
Lucero
Eleonora
E
Baigorria
Marcelo
M
Paz
Silvia
S
Garrone
Norma
N
Torres
Alberto Ives
AI
Romano
Olga
O
Carraccio
Ana
A
Leal
Olga
O
Bazzano
Ana
A
Vazquez
Dora
D
Pera
Oscar
O
Arquez
Gustavo
G
Valdez
Marcos
M
Lazaro
Hector
H
Rengel
Silvia
S
Acosta
Emma
E
Santana
Mirta
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution