Prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in the South-Transdanubian region of Hungary based on a representative survey of 10,000 inhabitants.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a representative study of the South Transdanubian region of Hungary.


METHODS
Ten thousand individuals aged between 14-65 years were interviewed. The stratified sample was representative for age, sex and urban/rural residence structure of the regional population of the South-West Hungarian region. As a second step, all individuals with possible RA were asked to undergo a clinical investigation to confirm the diagnosis of RA according to the American Rheumatism Association (ARA) 1987 criteria. Of 10,000 interviewed individuals, 632 reported having RA or symptoms including digital pain, stiffness, and/or swelling. Two hundred and twenty-four individuals were investigated clinically. Individuals fulfilling the 1987 ARA criteria were considered as having definite RA, and their clinical data were evaluated.


RESULTS
RA was confirmed in 13 cases. The male/female ratio was 3/10. The prevalence of RA among individuals aged 14-65 years was 0.37% (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.26-0.51), 0.23% (95% CI: 0.15-0.35) in men and 0.48% (95% CI: 0.35-0.64) in women.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of RA in the South Transdanubian region of Hungary is similar to those of other recent studies from other regions around the world.
Kiss
Csaba G
CG
Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Medical School, Hungarian Brothers of St. John of God and University of Pécs, Hungary. csaba.kiss@aok.pte.hu
Lövei
Csilla
C
Sütö
Gábor
G
Varjú
Cecília
C
Nagy
Zoltán
Z
Füzesi
Zsuzsanna
Z
Illés
Tamás
T
Czirják
László
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution