title: Epidemiology of the rheumatic diseases in Mexico. A study of 5 regions based on the COPCORD methodology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders and to describe predicting variables associated with rheumatic diseases in 5 regions of México.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional, community-based study performed in 5 regions in México. The methodology followed the guidelines proposed by the Community Oriented Program for the Control of the Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD). A standardized methodology was used at all sites, with trained personnel following a common protocol of interviewing adult subjects in their household. A "positive case" was defined as an individual with nontraumatic MSK pain of > 1 on a visual analog pain scale (0 to 10) during the last 7 days. All positive cases were referred to internists or rheumatologists for further clinical evaluation, diagnosis, and proper treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 19,213 individuals; 11,602 (68.8%) were female, and their mean age was 42.8 (SD 17.9) years. The prevalence of MSK pain was 25.5%, but significant variations (7.1% to 43.5%) across geographical regions occurred. The prevalence of osteoarthritis was 10.5%, back pain 5.8%, rheumatic regional pain syndromes 3.8%, rheumatoid arthritis 1.6%, fibromyalgia 0.7%, and gout 0.3%. The prevalence of MSK manifestations was associated with older age and female gender.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of MSK pain in our study was 25.5%. Geographic variations in the prevalence of MSK pain and specific diagnoses suggested a role for geographic factors in the prevalence of rheumatic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Department, Hospital General de México, Mexico City, México.
authors.forename: Ingris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Peláez-Ballestas
authors.forename: Luz Helena
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Sanin
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moreno-Montoya
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Nemegyei
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Burgos-Vargas
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garza-Elizondo
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Amado
authors.forename: Maria-Victoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Goycochea-Robles
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Madariaga
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zamudio
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Santana
authors.forename: Mario H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Cardiel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018672:Community Health Planning; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007390:International Agencies; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology