Effect of ethnic origin (Caucasians versus Turks) on the prevalence of rheumatic diseases: a WHO-ILAR COPCORD urban study in Iran.
The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints and rheumatic disorders in Caucasians and Turks in an identical environment. Subjects were selected randomly for an interview from Tehran's 22 districts. The Community Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Diseases questionnaire was filled in, positive cases were examined, and if needed, laboratory or X-ray tests were performed. A total of 4,096 houses were visited, and 10,291 persons were interviewed. They were 71.4% Caucasians and 23.1% Turks with similar distribution of age and gender. Musculoskeletal complaints of the past 7 days were detected in 40.8% of Caucasians and 45.5% of Turks (p < 0.001). In Caucasians, the total of musculoskeletal complaints in men was 33.8% (95% CI, 31.4-36.2%) versus 48.3% in women (95% CI, 45.7-50.8%). In Turks, the total of musculoskeletal complaints in men was 36.6% (95% CI, 32.2-41.1%) versus 55.8% in women (95% CI, 55.8-60.6%). The data of Caucasians versus Turks were as follows: knee pain 20.2% (95% CI, 18.2-22.1) versus 24.1% (95% CI, 20.5-27.6), with p < 0.001; dorso-lumbar spine pain 15.1% (95% CI, 13.6-16.6) versus 18.4% (95% CI, 15.1-21.8), with p < 0.001; shoulder pain 10.7% (95% CI, 9.4-11.9) versus 12.3% (95% CI, 9.7-14.8), with p = 0.025; osteoarthritis 14.1% (95% CI, 12.8-15.2) versus 16.4% (95% CI, 14.3-18.6), p = 0.04; and knee osteoarthritis 12.3% (95% CI, 11.8-14.1) versus 15.3% (95% CI, 13.3-17.4), with p < 0.001). There were no significant differences regarding the prevalence of soft tissue rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Behcet's disease, fibromyalgia, and gout. Although musculoskeletal complaints were more frequent in Turks than in Caucasians, the prevalence of rheumatic disorders was rather similar except for knee osteoarthritis.
Davatchi
Fereydoun
F
Rheumatology Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Kargar Avenue, Tehran 14114, Iran. fddh@davatchi.net
Jamshidi
Ahmad-Reza
AR
Tehrani Banihashemi
Arash
A
Gholami
Jaleh
J
Hossein Forouzanfar
Mohammad
M
Akhlaghi
Massoomeh
M
Barghamdi
Mojgan
M
Noorolahzadeh
Elham
E
Khabazi
Ali-Reza
AR
Salesi
Mansour
M
Salari
Amir-Hossein
AH
Karimifar
Mansoor
M
Essalat-Manesh
Kamal
K
Hajialiloo
Mehrzad
M
Soroosh
Mohsen
M
Farzad
Farhad
F
Moussavi
Hamid-Reza
HR
Samadi
Farideh
F
Ghaznavi
Koorosh
K
Asgharifard
Homa
H
Zangiabadi
Amir-Hossein
AH
Shahram
Farhad
F
Nadji
Abdolhadi
A
Akbarian
Mahmood
M
Gharibdoost
Farhad
F
Rasker
Johannes J
JJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000208:ethnology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000208:ethnology; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology*; D055815:Young Adult