title: The prevalence and accuracy of self-reported history of 11 autoimmune diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and confirmation rate of autoimmune diseases reported by relatives of patients with lupus and controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical histories were obtained by self-report from 626 first-degree relatives of lupus patients and 267 population controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 178 reports of an autoimmune disease, 44% were confirmed by medical records; excluding those whose medical records were unavailable, the confirmation rate was 76%. The prevalence of at least one confirmed autoimmune disease was 12% in lupus relatives and 2% in controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Methods to improve the reliability of self-reported autoimmune disease history could enhance population and clinic-based research.
authors.affiliation: United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Center for Environmental Assessment, Washington, DC 20460, USA. cooper.glinda@epa.gov
authors.forename: Glinda S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wither
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: Jaime O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Claudio
authors.forename: Sasha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bernatsky
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Fortin
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation; D015995:Prevalence