title: Prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in France: 2001.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prevalence estimates of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) vary across Europe. Recent estimates in southern European countries showed a lower prevalence than in northern countries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of RA in France in a multiregional representative sample in the year 2001.
  
  
  METHODS
  A two stage random sample was constituted in seven areas (20 counties) from the national telephone directory of households and by the next birthday method in each household. Patient-interviewers, member of self help groups, were trained to administer telephone surveys using a validated questionnaire for case detection of inflammatory rheumatism, and conducted the survey under quality control. All suspected cases of RA were confirmed by their rheumatologist or by clinical examination. Prevalence estimates after probability sampling correction were standardised for age and sex (national census 1999).
  
  
  RESULTS
  An average response rate of 64.7% (two stages combined) led to a total of 9395 respondents. Standardised prevalence was 0.31% (95% confidence interval 0.18 to 0.48) for RA, 0.51% in women and 0.09% in men, with a higher age-specific prevalence in the 65-74 year age band. A geographical analysis of county clustering showed significant variation across the country.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This national multiregional cooperative study demonstrates the usefulness of working in association with patients of self help groups. It showed a similar prevalence of RA to that of the spondyloarthropathies estimated concomitantly during the survey. It provides a reliable basis for definition of population targets for healthcare delivery and drug treatments.
authors.affiliation: EA 3444 School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nancy, Nancy, France. francis.guillemin@medecine.uhp-nancy.fr
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guillemin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saraux
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guggenbuhl
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Roux
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fardellone
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Le Bihan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cantagrel
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chary-Valckenaere
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Euller-Ziegler
authors.forename: R-M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Flipo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Juvin
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Behier
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fautrel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Masson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coste
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D017678:Sex Distribution