title: [Characterization of patients with rheumatoid arthritis according to the health care level].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize rheumatoid arthritis patients seen in Rheumatology Units at different health care levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaire and clinical examination of rheumatoid arthritis patients seen as outpatients in Rheumatology Units from Primary Care, county Hospitals and Reference Hospitals. Demographic, social, labour and disease data were collected. Statistical study included a description of the variables and a multiple correspondence analysis to define patient profiles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight hundred and twelve patients with rheumatoid arthritis were included. There were significant differences in patient profiles at the different care level. In Primary Care, patients were older, with basic studies, and with short duration and generally mild rheumatoid arthritis. In local hospitals the typical patient was a man, qualified worker, with low income, and an erosive disease with extraarticular manifestations. At reference Hospitals prevailing patients were young women with a long duration disease and requiring biological therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are significant differences in rheumatoid arthritis patient profiles at different health care levels.
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Reumatologia, CAE Cornellà, SAP Baix Llobregat, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roig Vilaseca
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Núñez Juárez
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Núñez Juárez
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Del Val García
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez Plà
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonet Llorach