title: Prevalence and correlates of inflammatory arthritis in Germany: data from the First National Health Survey.
abstract: The aim of this paper is to generate data on the prevalence of inflammatory arthritis in different subgroups of the population and to identify correlates on the basis of population-based cross-sectional data: the "First National Health Survey of the Federal Republic of Germany". This Survey investigated the prevalence of inflammatory arthritis, comorbidity and health-relevant behaviors on the basis of interviews with physicians and medical evaluations conducted in the period from October 1997 to March 1999. The study was based on a net sample comprising 6,461 subjects aged 18-79. Our data demonstrate an overall prevalence of 3.4% for inflammatory arthritis. The prevalence of inflammatory arthritis is significantly higher in women, the over-50, lower-income groups, and habitual smokers. Patients with inflammatory arthritis have a higher rate of numerous comorbidities such as osteoporosis, thyroid disease, chronic bronchial disease, hypertension, and elevated blood lipids versus healthy reference groups.
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Orthopädische Universitätsklinik Heidelberg, Schlierbacher Landstrasse 200, 69118, Heidelberg, Germany. s.schneider@dkfz.de
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Richter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult