Prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases in Guatemala, Central America: the COPCORD study of 2 populations.
BACKGROUND
Guatemala is a multiethnic, multilingual, and multicultural country. We have evaluated 2 different ethnic groups from (1) San Juan Sacatepéquez County (SJSC), a rural population (30% illiterate), with 65% from Kaqchiquel ethnic group; and (2) Zone 5 of Guatemala City (Z5GC), an urban population (6.6% illiterate), with 95.5% mestizos.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to measure simultaneously the prevalence of rheumatic diseases in these 2 Guatemalan populations, both located in the State of Guatemala.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 4000 inhabitants 15 years and older was selected in each group. The Core Community Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Diseases Questionnaire was used in this survey. Phase 1 was for screening (identification of study subjects), phase 2 was for obtaining information from subjects with musculoskeletal complaints, and phase 3 was for rheumatologic diagnostic purposes. Phases 1 and 2 were performed by 6 interviewers. Phase 3 was completed by 4 rheumatologists.


RESULTS
In phase I, 8000 subjects were identified in both groups. In phase II, 949 subjects reported musculoskeletal complaints: 371 (39%) in Z5GC and 578 (61%) in SJSC. In phase III, 419 patients were clinically evaluated: 141 (34%) in Z5GC and 278 (66%) in SJSC. The most prevalent musculoskeletal diseases were (1) osteoarthritis, (2) soft tissue rheumatism, (3) rheumatoid arthritis, (4) low back pain, and (5) arthralgias of unknown etiology. Osteoarthritis and soft tissue rheumatism were significantly more common in the rural population.


CONCLUSIONS
The most prevalent musculoskeletal diseases in Guatemala seem to be similar to those in most previous Community Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Diseases studies. Most subjects were still working. Further studies examining medical care received and impact on function can now be of interest.
Asociación Guatemalteca Anti-Enfermedades Reumáticas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Francisco Marroquín, Guatemala City, Guatemala.
Ariel
A
Obregón-Ponce
Isa
I
Iraheta
Helga
H
García-Ferrer
Bayardo
B
Mejia
Abraham
A
García-Kutzbach
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006166:Guatemala / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000208:ethnology*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult