title: Rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthropathies: geographical variations in prevalence in France.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine geographical variation in the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthropathies (SpA) in France.
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey sample was drawn from 7 areas of France. Households were randomly selected using the national telephone directory, and an individual within each household was randomly chosen by the next-birthday method. All cases of suspected RA and SpA were confirmed by the patient's rheumatologist or by clinical examination. Standardized estimates of prevalence were compared between regions and groups of regions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total 15,219 anonymous telephone numbers were selected. An average response rate of 64% led to a total of 9395 respondents included in the study. The highest regional rates of RA were observed in the south (range 0.59-0.66%), and the lowest in the north (range 0.14-0.24%), with a national rate of 0.31% (95% CI 0.18-0.48%). Regional heterogeneity was observed for SpA, with the highest rates in Bretagne (0.47%) and the Sud-Est (0.53%) and a national rate of 0.30% (95% CI 0.17-0.46%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is the largest of its kind conducted in France. It shows inter-regional variations, mainly in RA, with a higher prevalence in the south of the country. The many potential reasons for the heterogeneity observed, including genetic and environmental factors, warrant further research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital, Nice, France. roux101fr@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Christian H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Roux
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saraux
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Le Bihan
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fardellone
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guggenbuhl
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fautrel
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Masson
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chary-Valckenaere
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cantagrel
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Juvin
authors.forename: René-Marc
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Flipo
authors.forename: Lianna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Euller-Ziegler
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coste
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guillemin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D025241:Spondylarthritis / Q000453:epidemiology*