title: Disease patterns of rheumatology outpatients seen in a tertiary hospital serving a multi-ethnic, urban Asian population in Singapore.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the spectrum of diseases seen in an outpatient setting in the Singapore General Hospital, the largest tertiary referral centre in Singapore.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, medical records of patients scheduled for an appointment at the rheumatology specialist outpatient clinics over a 4-month period (10 August 2010-31 December 2010) were reviewed. Primary diagnoses documented by the attending physician at the latest visit were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 4180 patients (29.5% male; mean [SD] age: 53.5 [15.1] years; 77.0% Chinese, 8.0% Malay, 8.8% Indian and 6.2% others), the spectrum of diseases seen was as follows [disease - definite n (%), probable n (%)]: Arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis - 958 (22.9%), 68 (1.6%); osteoarthritis - 452 (10.8%), 39 (0.9%); crystal arthritis - 417 (10.0%), 18 (0.4%); spondyloarthritis - 227 (5.4%), 61 (1.5%); psoriatic arthritis - 158 (3.8%), 9 (0.2%); other inflammatory arthritis - 153 (3.7%), 94 (2.2%); Connective tissues diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus - 412 (9.9%), 26 (0.6%); vasculitis - 105 (2.5%), 22 (0.5%); Sjögren's syndrome - 81 (1.9%), 32 (0.8%); overlap syndromes - 73 (1.8%); scleroderma - 50 (1.2%), 4 (0.1%); undifferentiated connective tissue diseases - 45 (1.1%), 106 (2.5%); myositis - 41 (1.0%), 12 (0.3%); antiphospholipid syndrome - 22 (0.5%), 7 (0.2%); polymyalgia rheumatica - 16 (0.4%); Others: soft tissue rheumatism - 155 (3.7%); osteoporosis - 61 (1.5%); other non-rheumatologic conditions - 189 (4.5%); other rheumatologic conditions - 67 (1.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and crystal arthritis were the three most common rheumatological diseases seen in a tertiary referral centre serving a multi-ethnic urban Asian population in Singapore.
authors: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors: Xinyi
authors: X
authors: Ng
authors: Andrea Hsiu Ling
authors: AH
authors: Low
authors: Li-Ching
authors: LC
authors: Chew
authors: Yong Yeow
authors: YY
authors: Chong
authors: Kok Yong
authors: KY
authors: Fong
authors: Nai Lee
authors: NL
authors: Lui
authors: Eugene
authors: E
authors: Sim
authors: York Kiat
authors: YK
authors: Tan
authors: Jon
authors: J
authors: Yoong
authors: Julian
authors: J
authors: Thumboo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000639:trends; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors; D014504:Urban Health / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000639:trends
keywords: Asia; Singapore; hospital; outpatient clinics; rheumatic diseases